Immersing In The Colors And Traditions Of Seychelles Islands

Encountering The Rich Heritage Of Seychelles Islands

Seychelles is a faithful reflection of the harmonious, multi-ethnic roots of the islands’ tranquil yet vibrant society which is home to people from across the globe: Europe, Africa, and Asia who have fused effortlessly to form a rainbow people living where harmony is a way of life.’

This rare degree of integration is what provides Seychelles with diversity, tranquility, and stability as a young nation existing in splendid isolation in the western Indian Ocean, 1000 miles from the East African Coast.

Religion

Its colonial past has ensured that the vast majority of the population is French Catholic, worshipping alongside Anglican and other protestant denominations and co-existing harmoniously with Muslim, Hindu, and Baha’i communities.

The Roman Catholic church of the Cathedral of Victoria

during our travels around the globe, nothing fascinates us more than visiting places of worship. On a central, slightly elevated location stands the Catholic Cathedral of Victoria in the shape of a Latin cross and in the colors grey and white. Going up some steps we arrive at an attractive portico with Ionian-style columns. Entering through a door with carvings one sees the wide central nave, separated by slender pillars from two much narrower naves at the side. The gabled roof is held by beams. There are arched windows with stained glass windows, some traditional, some in modern style. Unlike so many other Catholic churches there are no side altars, just the high altar. The church goes back to the mid-19th century, but there had been several renovations and changes since then. Outside one will find a separate chapel and a bit further away the priest’s house La Domus. We also had a chance to visit the Hindu Temple where you have to take off your shoes before entering. The temple has amazing architecture and the exterior is colorful with faces and figures of many of the Hindu gods.

Cuisine

Seychellois Creole cuisine is today a rich reflection of the varied cultures and races involved in its creation.

In an unforgettable journey through the oceans, the four worlds of Africa, China, Europe, and India have all been fused together to create a cuisine that is both exquisite and varied, leaving visitors yearning for more and locals overseas reminiscing about homemade delights.

From India come the many varieties of curry; from China, popular rice dishes are stir-fried vegetables and noodles with steamed fish; from France the aromatic blends of garlic and herbs and from Madagascar and the east coast of Africa, coconut milk, cassava, and banana infusions. All these influences, mixed with a huge selection of fresh seafood plucked out of the Indian Ocean and a variety of tropical fruits and vegetables grown in the lush forests make eating out in Seychelles a culinary delight.

Street foods in Victoria

Victoria is full of history, creole character, and delightful impressions like the busy market, two cathedrals, Botanical Gardens, and Esplanade where you are sure to find local souvenirs. At the market, we are fascinated by the amazing street foods at Perry’s Grillz. it has been serving its customers classic and contemporary local dishes. The menu in the place includes appetizers such as Greek tekki, cheese, and dried meat, main dishes such as delicious pasta and pizza of all kinds, and many types of sweets and delicious pastries. The restaurant has simple decorations that will ensure that all visitors to the place have a wonderful and relaxing time. From the look of things, localists enjoyed the servings at Perry’s Grillz.

Language

The local Seychellois language (Creole) is an adaptation of 17th Century French with other words and expressions coming from Africa and Madascar. It has been elevated to national language status, earning the same respect accorded to English and French.

Music & Dance

This is where the creole soul finds eloquent expression in a grand variety of music and dance. The sega is found in Seychelles, as it is on other Indian Ocean Islands, but the dance and music unique to Seychelles is the moutya- a dance seen by the old colonial authorities as so sexually brazen that it was banned. After a week of hard labor on the plantations, the workers would gather under the coconut palms and dance to the sound of the moutya drums. The large flat drums are made from goatskin and heated over a fire to tune before being played.

It is the moutya that is most closely associated with the African heritage of the Seychellois people, but other African-looking instruments also make up the musical heritage of the Seychellois sound: the one-stringed zez from Madagascar, the bonm and the kashkaval. All were played during the long warm starlit evenings on verandas or by beach fires.

The best players and best parties usually occurred on the outlying islands. The sega was originally only danced to drums but nowadays the sega is a modernized version of the traditional dance, with fiddles, guitars, and even synthesizers, but the drums and the tantalizing hip-swaying movements of the dancers remain.