ChakeChake

Chake-Chake is a town on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago of Tanzania. It serves as the administrative center of Micheweni District and is one of the island’s largest settlements. The town lies on the northern coast of Pemba, facing the Pemba Channel.

Chake-Chake originated as a Swahili fishing and trading village. Its coastal location and sheltered harbors facilitated trade across the archipelago and with the Tanzanian mainland. The area experiences a tropical, maritime climate, with conditions influenced by the Indian Ocean.

The local economy centers on fishing, small-scale commerce, and agriculture, including cloves and coconuts. In recent years, service sectors and coastal tourism have grown, drawing visitors to its markets, mosques, and Swahili-influenced architecture. The town acts as a hub for transportation on the island, with facilities that include Chake-Chake Airport and a small harbor servicing domestic routes; ferry services connect to other parts of Pemba and to Unguja, complemented by roads linking the town to inland settlements.

Chake-Chake is predominantly Swahili-speaking and Muslim, with a cultural heritage shaped by maritime trade and island life. Markets in the town offer local crafts, spice products, and fish, reflecting its coastal economy. The built environment includes historic Swahili-style houses and religious structures that illustrate the town’s historical connections across the Indian Ocean.