Abstract
The increasing contestation of Magwangala as a livelihood in Geita, Tanzania, invokes a scholarly desire to further the constitution of the term beyond its traditional constructs. Following the present framing of magwangala as a disruptive, hazardous, contentious, and risky engagement; including the sanctions against it and the disparaging remarks upsurging the oppression of its actors, an attempt to advance its comprehension is of paramount importance. Given the nature of Magwangala business and the evident ramifications, its contestation is inevitable and unlikely to yield a uniform understanding. This paper, therefore, draws from the grueling life experiences endured by magwangala dealers in Geita, to illustrate the deep-rooted socio-structural injustices, which unearth the underlying meanings of the practice and are essential in construing an advanced description of the concept. In this matter, the analysis theorizes magwangala as nuanced means of attaining socially prescribed goals, far detached from the institutional conditionalities dispensing repressive policies in the country’s extractive industry.
Recommended Citation
Tibaijuka, Albert
(2025)
"Theorizing ‘Magwangala’ as an Unorthodox Livelihood in Geita, Tanzania,"
Tanzania Journal of Sociology: Vol. 11:
Iss.
2, Article 9.
Available at:
https://commons.udsm.ac.tz/tjso/vol11/iss2/9