Visit Seychelles now!
The Seychelles is an archipelago of over 115 islands located off of the coast of southeast Africa in the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles people, numbering at around 100,000 in 2019, are a melange of southeast African (mainly from Mozambique and Madagascar), Asian (mainly Indian and Chinese), and European (mainly French and English). This mixing of cultures began in 1770 when the French, bringing with them slaves from Mozambique and Madagascar, became the first visitors to the islands to settle. In 1795 the English gained control of the islands, and in 1898, many Indian and Chinese indentured servants began being sent over to work following the abolishment of slavery.
The Seychellois culture is an homage to this mixing and the uniqueness of the food and language are the results. Food in the Seychelles are heavily influenced by Malagasy, Indian, and southeast Asian culture. Mainly consisting of coconut milk-based curries and desserts, the Seychelles’ cuisine is unique to Africa. The Seychellois language is a French-Creole unlike the French Creoles spoken in the Caribbean and the countries surrounding the islands. Due to the influence of settlers on the islands over the course of its history; Seychellois Creole, or Kreol Seselwa as the locals call it; is a mixture of French, English, Bantu, Swahili, Malagasy, Hindi, and Portuguese. Other aspects of culture include the forms of expression such as, dance and music. These are mainly East African in nature with a touch of Indian influence.
Today the Seychelles is a tourist attraction mainly for the beauty and antiquity of the islands. Seemingly untouched, one can almost return to a time before high-risers and delve into peace and serenity whilst in nature. Although the Seychelles encompasses over 115 islands, the vast majority of the islands are uninhabited by humans, and are instead home to an ecosystem of flora and fauna. The Coco de Mer is the largest seed (and coconut) in the world and only grows on the island of Praslin. Due to its unique shape (resembling the lower region of the female anatomy), this seed was once a delicacy to the French and the islands were once considered to be the original Garden of Eden because of it!
Whatever your reasons are for visiting the Seychelles, the array of things to see, taste, and hear will surely make this trip a memorable one.
Read more on the Seychelles here.
