In many traditional societies in Africa, women are barred from being landowners. Without that right, they are denied a critical resource for making a living.For many women there, the death of a husband or a divorce can mean a life of poverty. The deceased's property rights are transferred to the next man in the family - and a widow then has to answer to him. But some NGOs have convinced village elders to allow women to keep their spouse's land - which has been a boon to the entire community.