Property and land tenure

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, customary land tenure is the dominant form of landholding in rural and some urban areas, existing alongside titled land which is concentrated in urban centers. Institutionalized through the colonial experience, customary land tenure persists despite some post-independence attempts to eliminate it. Concerns about customary land as an impediment to agricultural productivity persist, as do the gender inequities present in most customary systems. However, customary land tenure has been resilient in the face of change and many customary land holders are deeply invested in the system either because it contributes to their identity as a group member or because of it is a social safety net for community members, providing an agricultural livelihood and food security in the absence of other opportunities. This chapter discusses recent threats to customary land from local land markets and large-scale land acquisitions as well as briefly addressing urban property concerns.