About the Seychelles

At the very dawn of time, when the shape of our planet was still evolving, the giant continent of Gondwanaland broke apart and a group of ancient granite fragments finally came to rest in the south-western Indian Ocean between Africa, India and Madagascar. The Seychelles archipelago is a legendary beauty, constituting of an arc of 115 granitic and coralline islands. Although known and visited by traders in the earlier times, the Seychelles Archipelago first appeared on European maps at the beginning of the sixteenth century when the Portuguese explorers sighted the islands during their crossing to India. The name Seychelles was bestowed to our island after the second French expedition, honoring the French Minister of Finance; Moreau of Seychelles. However under the English rule the name was anglicized to Seychelles.

Seychelles is comparatively young nation tracing its history back to 1770 when the first French settlers habited our island, leading a small party of whites, Indians and Africans. In 1814 Seychelles was ceded to Britain under the treaty of Paris. Under the British, Seychelles saw the establishment of her capital Victoria. Seychelles achieved independence from Britain in 1976 and become a republic within the commonwealth. In the evolution of its society, Seychelles has remained faithful to its multi-ethnic roots, a melting pot of different races, traditions and religions originating mainly from three main continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, as well as political exiles, adventurers, Arab and Persian traders. This vibrant mixture contributed to our broad diversity and tranquil society.

Traditionally, regardless of the French and British influence, our culture, distinct tradition and customs is derived from the amalgamation of all the races of our nation. One can see these influences through the music, cuisine, art, dance, architecture and language. The local artists continue to exhibit diverse styles that echo the multi-ethnic backdrop of the island. Creole music and dance have their roots in African, Malagasy and European cultures. The music is played to the accompaniment of drums such as “tambour”, tamtam and simple string instruments. Not to forget our traditional erotic dance “moutya” from the days of the slavery together with the sega with its colourful lyrics. The music of Seychelles is diverse. Reminiscent from the British and French are the folk music such the Kontredans, polka and kanmtole.

Exhibiting our diversity and cultural influences, the Creole cuisine features the exotic blend from French, Indian, Chinese, African and English cooking; subtle, exotic, piquant and oriental spices bringing a palette of flavours to your mouth. Grilled fish marinated in a sauce of fresh chillies, ginger, garlic and herbs is a favourite, as well as a creamy octopus curry with coconut milk, and a side dish of innovative chatinis made from local fruits such as mango and papaya. The local cuisine is not lacking of seafood dishes predominantly fresh fish readily available, shellfish and crabs serve alongside the national staple, rice. The Creole cuisine is resourceful, with the expectation of a feast that will awaken all your senses.