Land rights of indigenous peoples in Africa : with special focus on Central, Eastern and Southern Africa / Albert Kwokwo Barume.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 292-311).

Pt. I. Conceptualising indigenous land rights in an African context: I. The term "indigenous" - an evolving concept ; II. Relevance and applicability of the concept "indigenous" in an African context ; III. The lands of indigenous peoples: importance and justification ; IV. Indigenous peoples' land dispossession: causes and reactions -- Pt. II. The judiciary and indigenous peoples' land rights: V. Indigenous peoples land claims in Kenya ; VI. Indigenous peoples' land claims in Tanzania ; VII. Indigenous peoples land claims in Southern Africa -- Pt. III. Indigenous peoples' land rights in an international and African perspective: VIII. Characteristics and foundation of indigenous peoples' land rights ; IX. Constitutional recognition and states' practice regarding indigenous peoples' rights ; X. Main U.N. instruments and mechanisms relevant for indigenous land rights ; XI. Other relevant global and regional instruments ; XII. General conclusions and recommendations.

The indigenous peoples of Africa are increasingly being dispossessed of their ancestral lands. It started during colonial times, when many of them lost their land to European settlers. It continues today where conservation interests, commercial plantations, mineral exploitations, and other economic activities are leading to encroachments, expropriations, and forced removals. Indigenous peoples have not let this happen without reacting and in some cases they have gone to court, challenging those who threatened them. This book analyzes some of the land cases filed by indigenous peoples in selected African countries, in order to see how the judiciary has dealt with this human rights thematic, and what lessons can be learned from these court cases.