article
Land use rights and gender in Ovamboland, north-central Namibia, since the 1930s
Fennia • 187 (1) • Published In 2009 • Pages: 5-15
By: Siiskonen, Harri.
Abstract
This examination of changes in the traditional Ovambo land tenure system focuses on the property and inheritance rights of women. The distribution of those rights and associated duties within matrilineal lineages favored male members at the expense of women in general and widows and orphans in particular. Widows and divorced women held highly insecure, derivative rights acquired only through secondary marriage to a land-owning, in most cases already married man. The discussion includes reforms that occurred due to advocacy efforts by Christian Missionaries and policy changes pursued by Namibian political leaders.
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Historical Geographer
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2021
- Field Date
- not applicable
- Coverage Date
- 1925-1992
- Coverage Place
- north-central Namibia
- Notes
- Harri Siiskonen
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 14-15)
- LCCN
- 25018203
- LCSH
- Ovambo (African people)