Customary Land Tenure in Liberia - Land Tenure and Property ...

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Other factors cited for contributing to disrespect for customary rules and leaders were abuse of power by
local leaders and lack of enforcement power vested in leaders, especially more local or traditional ones like
Town Chiefs and Town Elders. In Ylan, for example, the youth and others accuse statutory leaders of
grabbing land away from the people and seeding mistrust. For their part, customary leaders in the clan
complain that they have lost their power to enforce traditional rules. Compliance with rules in Nitrian
Community is said to have once been robust because people believed strongly in the power of the Bodioh
and strong norms of mutual respect and unity among community members existed. Today, however, failure
of the Bodioh to follow the rules governing his position has led the youth and some elders to question not
only his legitimacy but also the legitimacy of the rules he is responsible for enforcing.
Consultations with the youth sometimes revealed a different perspective on the reasons for weakening rule
structures. In Tengia, youth expressed frustration with the authority wielded by the elders and the obligations
imposed on them, insisting that they no longer wanted to be their “bag carriers and messengers.” According
to elders in Saykleken, youth challenge the rules, saying that times have changed and that the rules no longer
apply to modern day realities. Exclusion of the youth from the realms of rule-making and authority are being
met with acts of resistance, including rejecting traditional practices, decisions made by customary authorities,
and directives to contribute to town labor. Likewise, in Dobli, youth attribute rule-breaking to youth not
being allowed to participate in decision-making, including decisions about clan rules.
Figure 4.5: Reasons cited for diminishing compliance with customary rules
Clan
Imposition of
“human rights” laws
and education –
including limitations
on punishments
imposed by
traditional societies,
parents, and
teachers
War breeding
disrespect for
customary rules
and authorities
by the youth
Exclusion of
youth from
decision-making
roles or
disrespectful
treatment of
youth
Declining
respect for
local leaders
(e.g., due to
abuse of
power or
lack of
capacity to
enforce
rules)
Ding X X
Dobli X X X
Gbanshay X X
Mana
X
Motor Road X X
Nitrian X X
Saykleken
X
Tengia X X
Upper Workor
Ylan X X
Unlike customary rules, compliance with and respect for statutory rules has increased in both Ding and Ylan
Clans. In both cases, citizens cited the better capacity to enforce rules – that police could be called in and the
perpetrator arrested. In Ding, some predicted that “government” rules will eventually replace customary rules
in the clan. Yet, in Motor Road, many expressed frustration with statutory rules introduced by the FDA and
CUSTOMARY LAND TENURE IN LIBERIA