Traditional Land Tenure System in Nnewi Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract
This paper examines the land tenure practices in traditional Nnewi community which is the only community in Nnewi North L.G.A., Anambra State, comprising four quarters. Some elders and community leaders were interviewed. Also secondary data were obtained from textbooks, journals and other published and unpublished online materials. This paper identified how land was acquired traditionally and the reasons for land acquisition/ownership in traditional Nnewi society. It also classified land tenure in traditional Nnewi society and also identified the traditional channels of settlement of land dispute in Nnewi. It concludes that the pattern of land tenure system practiced in Nnewi was one carefully drawn with a well organized system of land dispute resolution which has strata and jurisdiction. This system has been in existence as far back as 11 century AD even before the coming of the British with their system of land tenure.