TITLE:
The Impact of Urbanisation on the Urban Identity of Mwanza City in Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Laison S. Kaganga
KEYWORDS:
Mwanza City, Rocky Landscape, Rock City, Urbanisation, Urban Identity, Tanzania
JOURNAL NAME:
Current Urban Studies,
Vol.14 No.1,
March
19,
2026
ABSTRACT: Unique cities’ natural elements are a fundamental component of the urban fabric, as they help to shape urban identity. Urban identity contributes to the creation of a sense of place and belongingness among residents and eventually enhances both the quality and vitality of urban spaces. However, there has been limited scholarly focus on the sustainability of the unique natural elements that define a city’s identity. Existing studies suggest that urbanisation processes are significantly altering the urban landscape by transforming its dominant natural elements, which erodes their identity and meanings. This study assesses the impact of urbanisation on the urban identity of Mwanza City in Tanzania. Data were collected from 33 respondents, urban planning officer, urban developers and local elders from Mwanza City. The questionnaires, in-depth interviews, field observations, and documentary reviews were the data collection methods used in this study. Respondents were selected using a non-probability sampling approach, where the convenience sampling technique and the purposeful sampling technique were used. The findings indicate that the respondents perceive that Mwanza City is well represented by its rocky landscape and that it is the most significant symbol of Mwanza City’s urban identity within the spatial identities of the Tanzanian cities. Also, the findings reveal that the rocky landscape is associated with certain significance physically, socially, and culturally within the city’s urban context. In addition, the results show that urbanisation is transforming the rocky landscape of Mwanza City through rock clearance to get building sites, quarrying for building materials, and building on top of rocky outcrops, thereby changing the nature of the landscape. Moreover, the findings indicate that the existing urban planning frameworks are inadequate in protecting the rocky landscape of Mwanza City. Therefore, it can be concluded that rapid urbanisation in Mwanza City is causing substantial transformation to the rocky landscape due to the ineffective spatial planning interventions. Thus, there is a need for Mwanza City authorities to establish strategies to protect and preserve unique natural elements for the sustainability of Mwanza City’s urban identity.