My inheritance” (Na Kehtah) - #EUinTheGambia - ACESS TO JUSTICE CIVIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

My inheritance” (Na Kehtah) aims to portray how the custodians of our customary laws resolves disputes through Mediation and Reconciliationat the community level.
This story is based on free hold title of ownership of land which is the cause of most land dispute.
KanBakary’s parents migrated to the village of Bantanding almost a century ago and KanBakary was born there.
A portion of the village land was allocated to his father to be used for his doweling and farming and agreed to be giving five bags of his harvest to the late Nfansu every year for a period of five years after which he will own the land.
Few decades later KanBakary’s parents pass away and he assumed ownership of the land as his inheritance from his parents.
Due to development, the Bantanding village expanded and most of the pioneers sold portions of their land. KanBakary’s did the same and reserved a portion for agricultural purposes.
As preparation where in high gear for a forth coming raining season, KanBakarr farm land was cleared and a portion was sold by Ousmana son of late Nfansu who lives in the city of Kombo TubabouBanko. He claims that centuries ago his father allocated that portion of land to KanBakarr’s father which is their inheritance.
There was a big fight about the rightful ownership of this land.
The matter was brought to the Alkalo AfanDembo who inherited the Alkaloship from his father and was fully informed about the village affairs.
Ousman who was a bit enlighten as he lives in the city refused to pay heed to his sister’s advice insisting that it’s their inheritance.
The Alkalo and the village elders were however able to resolved the dispute and from their discretion the rightful owner of the land was known.