Obama,
his wife Michelle and their two daughters received an exuberant welcome when
they arrived in the city, where a marching band played as dozens of well
wishers waved US and Tanzanian flags.
Obama will also have a
brief meeting with his predecessor - former president George W Bush is
also in town for a conference on African women organised by his institute.
Hundreds of young people
lined the streets wearing t-shirts and sarongs bearing images of Obama as it
sped down a main road now named Barack Obama Drive - a sign of the popularity
in Tanzania of America's first president of African descent.
The US president praised
Bush's funding for AIDS treatment during a news conference with Tanzania's
President Jakaya Kikwete, shortly after his arrival.
One of the crowning
achievements that Obama said of Bush's President's Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief. "Because of the commitment of the Bush administration and the
American people, millions of lives have been saved." But Obama
wanted to move from aid toward trade.
"We are looking at a new model that's based not just on aid and assistance, but on trade and partnership," he said.
"Ultimately, the goal here is for Africa to build Africa for Africans," the president added. "And our job is to be a partner in that process."
"We are looking at a new model that's based not just on aid and assistance, but on trade and partnership," he said.
"Ultimately, the goal here is for Africa to build Africa for Africans," the president added. "And our job is to be a partner in that process."
Obama and Bush will meet
on Tuesday for a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the 1998 bombings at the
US Embassy in the city. In the attacks, carried out by a group linked to Osama
bin Laden, 11 people were killed.
Michelle Obama and former
first lady Laura Bush will also team up at the conference on Tuesday for a joint
discussion on promoting women's education, health and economic empowerment.