[mmsimanga]

In African villages (in my home country) it works the same. No one has title deeds and you are allocated land by the local headman. Sometimes the process is quick if no one is living on the land. Sometimes it takes a while because some relative has to be traced and consulted so he/she doesn't ask for their land back.

Most of the land is handed down. I must say I do prefer this to dealing with property agent, conveyancer and bank. You get to know your neighbors in the process and the history of the land. It is a more social process and you deal with people directly connected to the land.