Exploring Wete Town, Pemba – The Quiet Side of Zanzibar!

Life in Wete, Pemba Island | Street Views, Culture & Everyday Life

Wete is the main town on the northern part of Pemba Island (part of Zanzibar). For viewers who may not know it, Wete is best understood as a quiet coastal trading town, shaped by the sea, agriculture, and Swahili culture rather than big-city development.

Wete developed as a small port and market settlement. For generations, wooden dhows connected it with other East African coastal towns, carrying cloves, coconuts, fish, and everyday goods. Trade, not industry, built the town.

Pemba Island has long been famous for clove production, and Wete became a natural collection point for agricultural produce from nearby villages. Many families still depend on farming, fishing, and small trading.

Wete reflects the traditional Swahili coastal lifestyle:

• modest coral-stone and cement houses
• mosques at the center of community life
• narrow streets with small shops and kiosks
• strong neighbor-to-neighbor social ties

Life moves at a slower pace than in Unguja (Zanzibar City).

The town functions as a service and transport hub for northern Pemba:

• main market activity
• access to nearby villages and farms
• small harbor and local transport links
• For many residents of the north, Wete is where they come for supplies, schooling, and services.

Wete preserves a strong Pemba identity — known for:

• deep community traditions
• Islamic learning and customs
• local crafts, fishing culture, and coastal cuisine

It feels more rural and intimate compared with larger Zanzibar towns.