Despite an abundance of mineral wealth and an ancient history of gold trading, Tanzania is a relative
latecomer to the experience of being a mineral-dominated national economy. Both the British colonial
state and Nyerere’s post-colonial state avoided encouraging, and only reluctantly provided support to,
large and small-scale mining. Farming constituted the livelihood for the vast majority of the population
and peasant agricultural exports provided the main source of foreign exchange for the country. Now,
however, Tanzania has become one of Africa’s main gold producers and the number one destination
for non-oil foreign direct investment after South Africa. This article traces the development of gold
mining and urban growth in Tanzania with the aim of identifying if, when and where these two
processes interact with one another. We explore the triggers, mechanisms and durability of their fusion
and synergies over time.