The shade of new leaves

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Omudile muua ohapo; epangelo liua ohamba. This Ovakwanyama proverb from northern Namibia emphasizes the balance between continuity and change in customary law. It suggests that while royal orders should remain consistent across kings, they adapt to new circumstances, akin to a tree producing new leaves that reflect both tradition and innovation. The roots of traditional authority are stable, grounded in ancestral customs, while the manifestations of this authority evolve with societal changes. The Shade of New Leaves originated from a 2004 international conference in Windhoek, focusing on the dynamics of customary law and traditional governance. Organized by the Centre for Applied Social Sciences and the Human Rights and Documentation Centre at the University of Namibia, in collaboration with institutions like the University of Bremen and the School of Oriental and African Studies, the publication is divided into six parts: Legal pluralism and traditional governance; revisiting traditional justice administration; understanding customary law for effective governance; exploring legal and African philosophy; research and education in customary law; and concluding reflections.