Vernacular land markets and the changing face of customary land tenure in Africa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Contemporary discourse on land in Africa suggest that customary or 'communal' tenure is the only check against freehold market-induced landlessness among the poor in the African countryside, and that 'pro-poor' land policy should therefore strengthen customary rights to land. This article draws on a growing body of evidence on the emergence of vernacular rural land sales and rental markets to question assumptions that underlie the non-market 'ideal type' communal tenure model that has historically dominated policy thinking in Africa. It argues that recognition of the specific characteristics of 'vernacular land markets'- market-based transfers of land under customary tenure - is essential if state land policies are to succeed in promoting the interests of the poor.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)385-414
Number of pages29
JournalForum for Development Studies
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2005

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Land reform
  • Markets
  • Poverty

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Global Development Institute

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Vernacular land markets and the changing face of customary land tenure in Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this