Traditional Leaders Rejecting Colonial Continuities in Africa’s Land Governance

At the 2025 Conference on Land Policy in Africa (CLPA 2025), the Network of Excellence on Land Governance in Africa (NELGA) convened scholars and traditional leaders to reflect on a decade of progress in strengthening Africa’s land governance systems. The session underscored the vital role of traditional leaders in managing customary land which accounts for up to 90% of land in many African countries and in ensuring that local values, justice, and identity remain central to governance. 

Discussions drew lessons from Zambia’s dual tenure system, Cameroon’s borderland governance, Ghana’s urban land challenges, and Nigeria’s initiatives to harmonise customary law. Speakers noted that while customary systems have sustained community cohesion and stewardship for generations, they continue to face challenges linked to colonial legacies, such as unclear succession, limited legal recognition, and exclusion of women and youth.

Participants emphasised the need for collaboration between governments, traditional institutions, and academia to align customary and statutory systems. Researchers were called upon to bridge indigenous knowledge and formal frameworks to promote inclusive and sustainable land management.

The message was clear: for Africa’s land governance to be just and resilient, it must embrace its traditional custodians those who have protected the land for the past, the present, and the future.