Addis Ababa, November 11, 2025 – As part of the Sixth Conference on Land Policy in Africa, a high-profile side event took place at the African Union headquarters, bringing together traditional leaders, academics, and international experts to discuss a critical question : how to combine ancestral knowledge and modern research to achieve inclusive and sustainable land governance.
Upon entering the plush conference room, the atmosphere was tangible: traditional attire mingled with modern suits, and the murmur of participants conveyed a palpable anticipation. Johan, moderator and representative of the African Economic Committee, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of time efficiency—each session allowed only 45 minutes for exchanges. Yet behind this structure was a clear intention: to foster authentic dialogue between two worlds often apart—the traditional authorities and the academic research community.
“We convened our traditional leaders in Accra in 2016 to provide a platform for experience-sharing and exchange,” explained Dr. Joan Cuka Kagwanja from the African Land Policy Centre. “We recognize the central role of traditional authorities in land governance. Their knowledge, combined with scientific research, can transform the way decisions are made across the continent.”
The tone was set: this was not just theoretical discussion but a push to integrate traditional knowledge into contemporary land management tools, from cadastral systems to geospatial technologies. Collaboration with universities, Kagwanja stressed, also helps train a new generation of professionals capable of reconciling cultural heritage with technical expertise.
International support was also highlighted. The GIZ’s representer, noted that Germany, through its cooperation agency, supports this initiative to ensure that generated knowledge is “rooted in African evidence” and that resulting policies reflect local realities. She emphasized two key points: ending colonial legacies in land governance and recognizing traditional methods of knowledge generation.
Within this framework, traditional leaders took the floor. Her Royal Majesty Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua, Queen Mother of Ghana, shared her experience: “In my country, land decisions are made through dialogue and consensus. Yet rapid population growth and urbanization pose new challenges. We have identified opportunities to collaborate with universities to study indigenous land practices and enrich them through scientific research.”
The Queen Mother highlighted a central point: balancing ancestral wisdom with modern efficiency. Her speech, concise yet powerful, underscored that the role of traditional leaders goes beyond land management; it is a community-centered approach aimed at reducing conflicts and ensuring equitable access to land. Meanwhile, a Nigerian king stressed the legal recognition of traditional authorities as custodians of customary land, with clearly defined responsibilities to ensure transparency and social justice. He advocated for a system where individual rights are respected while strengthening traditional leaders’ capacity to oversee territories.
In Namibia, a traditional leader recounted the historical challenges inherited from colonization. Once indivisible territories were fragmented and redistributed, creating fragile land pockets and community tensions. His message was clear: land governance cannot be limited to allocating individual plots; it must also include restoring and managing communal territories to ensure justice and dignity.
Across all testimonies, a common thread emerged: the need to combine traditional knowledge with modern tools, ensure ecological sustainability, and protect the rights of women, youth, and vulnerable populations.
From Chad, Mussa Bezu Mohammed emphasized the role of traditional leaders in inclusive land reform. According to him, land is life—multidimensional, rooted in culture, history, and social organization. Since 2018, Chadian traditional authorities, in collaboration with the government and civil society, have facilitated access to over 10,600 hectares of arable land for youth groups and women’s associations. This participatory approach, supported by FAO and Oxfam, demonstrates the potential of land governance based on dialogue and community consent.
These initiatives show that including traditional authorities in the design and implementation of land policies is not a mere formality but a powerful lever for reducing conflicts and promoting equity. Discussions highlighted several concrete recommendations:
- Statutory recognition of traditional leaders as custodians of customary land, with limited and regulated powers.
- Documentation and valorization of customary rules and community land arrangements.
- Registration of individual rights within communities to ensure transparency and protection against land grabs.
- Capacity building for traditional authorities to effectively perform their governance role.
- Support for customary dispute resolution mechanisms, with documented procedures and avenues for appeal to formal courts.
These recommendations reflect a shared commitment: to combine social justice, sustainability, and administrative efficiency while respecting local knowledge. For many participants, this blending of tradition and science is more than symbolic; it represents a profound shift in how Africa approaches land governance. Traditional leaders, far from being relics of the past, are becoming strategic partners in public policy design, while academics learn to integrate ancestral knowledge into their research, enriching Africa’s knowledge base.
The side event concluded with cautious optimism. Participants left the room with concrete ideas, aware that implementing these policies requires ongoing commitment, resources, and strong partnerships. Land, in all its cultural, social, and economic complexity, remains at the heart of African debate—and this meeting in Addis Ababa demonstrated that, for the first time, all actors are speaking with one voice.
By Kilalopress
