Deagrarianization and Rural Transformation in Africa

—The Impact on Social Relationship in a Mining Community of Tanzania—

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss impacts of ‘deagrarianization’ in mineral-rich African communities. To this end, the article hypothesizes that deagrarianization due to expansion of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) brings about changes in social relationship in mining communities. To examine the hypothesis, this article analyzes a case of mining communities of Geita in Tanzania.

The result of analysis states that the relationship between miners and society becomes stronger particularly in a hamlet level as deagrarianization progresses. A mining site is located in a hamlet where miners seek economic benefits as well as social benefits from mutualism and collectiveness. The social relationship becomes stronger because of the exclusive nature of small-scale mining operation in a relatively small community.

The results of analysis imply that, with the progress of deagrarianization, the social relationship becomes stronger in a smaller space like a hamlet. This may bring about a conflict between mining sites over mineral rights and benefit allocation. Therefore, the role of a governing body of the larger space like a village appears to become more important in the future.