SOME participants in the Fourth International Conference on Youth and Land Governance in Africa (CIGOFA 4) are worried that culture and traditions in African communities are creating generational gaps especially where ownership and land rights are concerned. The gap denies the youth the right to own land. Land ownership is a human right issue.

Majority of Africa’s population falls in the 30-35 age group, a group that should be spearheading the country’s development in all aspects. “But very often culture and tradition do not allow this group to own land at an early age and when they are allowed to, some would have lost interested, some would be frustrated and others, the lucky ones who are given the opportunity, don’t know what to do with it,” explained Faith Allube, CEO of Kenya Land Alliance and a human rights lawyer focusing on land justice. “Land is finite, it loses fertility and it is vulnerable to land use change. The earlier one owns land more likely they may manage it to build their future,” she added. 

Ms. Allube argued that traditions and culture widen the intergenerational gap that makes communities fail to acknowledge the stewardship role of the youth on land resources. Elders and traditional leaders do not hear or recognize the voices of the youth when they demand equitable sharing of land. “Instead they muffle these voices in order to maintain the gap, thereby disconnecting the intergenerational harmony,” she said.

During a panel discussion, Landesa Country Programme Director Godfrey Massay explained that many traditions in African countries have created a situation in which the youth inherit or are given land at a late stage, after they have waited for a long time. This has built a wrong notion that youth is a transition stage and the youth should not be trusted. “However, the youth themselves think that their time is now, and we should all acknowledge that they can be trusted to own and develop land for a better future, given the right circumstances” he said, adding that taking so long to recognize and acknowledge the youth’s land rights leads to frustration and they turn to other property which do not provide a solid foundation for sources of livelihoods. 

He explained that traditions and culture that force the youth to keep waiting must change. Elders must allow them to own land at early stage so that they may learn to manage it, benefit from it and realize its importance and as such be able to protect their ownership and tenure rights. 

Speaking on sidelines of CIGOFA 4 Conference, Bernard Baha, Coordinator, and Tanzania Land Alliance said that traditions and culture do not prepare the youth to own and manage land sustainably and make it the main source of their livelihoods. Traditional leaders and elders do not prepare the youth to own and manage land; elders keep it and merely delegate ownership in the later stages of their lives. By then the youth have become frustrated after waiting for too long; they opt for ownership of other property which do not provide a solid foundation on which to build their future. “Note also that with the youth denied the right to own land, food security is at stake as the bulk of producers are the youth. No one strives to raise production on a piece of land he/she doesn’t own and whose security of tenure is not guaranteed,” he said.

Discussions at the conference revealed that the youth have to wait for very long in order to exercise their right to own land whether through inheritance or legal process. Elders fear that there would be transfer of ownership of land and therefore be rendered powerless. Likewise the government might be harbouring similar fears “but discussions at CIGOFA 4 do not intend to shift power from government to the youth nor do we want to shift power from traditional leaders to the youth. What we are advocating is the equitable ownership of land and the acknowledgement that everyone in the society has the right to own land, including the youth. Yet it is not enough for the youth to own land, it is not enough to uphold their right to own land; such ownership rights must me supported by secure tenure, one of which is the ability to develop land and make the ownership more meaningful. This requires economic empowerment that avails opportunities to funding and technology,” explained Masalu Luhula, Land Tenure Expert from Landesa Tanzania Office.

In another panel discussion Leingwanani Isaac Ole Kisongo who is the Chief of Maasai leaders in Tanzania said that Maasai traditions allow the youth to acquire the customary land because if they don’t own the land there will be a breakdown in a family and clan land ownership systems. “We are pastoralists and land is our lifeline. Our system of administration allows the youth to own land so that they can maintain our herds of livestock on the traditional land long after the elders have gone. Our traditions also teach the youth to manage land so that it can provide water and pasture for our livestock under harsh or friendly conditions. That is why we elders are comfortable because we know that our land is in the safe hands of the youth,” he explained.

But he was quick to note that things are changing as the youth are losing interest in land and getting attracted to other resources which do not guarantee them a good future. “Many Tanzanian youths do not acknowledge the importance of land. They don’t care about land anymore. I am worried that the family land may disappear when I am gone. The youth might just sell it,” he said.

The Fourth International Youth and Land Governance Conference conclude on Thursday (October 24) with delegates committing to scale efforts to accelerate youth land rights by addressing policies, laws, funding systems, traditions and culture as well as youth empowerment so that the youth can access land, protect their right of ownership and secure tenure.