Seychelles’ history, art and culture celebrated with a myriad of activities for one and all |29 December 2023

SG David Andre handing over passport booklet to Speaker Mancienne

Seychelles’ history, art and culture were celebrated in 2023 with a myriad of activities, for people of all age groups.

In January, Cascade primary pupils participated in a week-long 'moutya' workshop at Domaine de Val des Pres, organised by the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.

Led by Alain Jules, the workshop educated children on traditional activities like the history of 'moutya' dance, playing the 'moutya' drum, traditional games, cooking, and poetry. These sessions, part of a broader initiative to introduce traditional activities to the youth, highlight the growing importance of 'moutya' following its recognition by Unesco as intangible heritage.

In April, there was the launch of a new book, titled ‘Victorian Seychelles’," by Seychellois author Denise Johnstone, offering a vivid portrayal of the nation's social history from 1839 to 1902. The 220-page book, enriched with approximately 200 photographs from the same period, was launched at the National Museum of History. It represented Johnstone's long-standing passion for family and social history, a project she envisioned since age 15 during her research at the Seychelles archives.

In June, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts unveiled the first edition of the ‘Seychelles Identity Passport’ at the National History Museum. This booklet, rich in information about Seychelles' history, traditions, and heritage, is aimed at preserving and promoting the nation's cultural identity. The creation of the booklet involved the collaboration of various specialists including historians, botanists, photographers, language experts, graphic artists, translators, and heritage professionals.

In August, the world's largest book fair, 'Logos Hope,' docked in Port Victoria, Seychelles, was officially opened to the public in a ceremony featuring President Wavel Ramkalawan and First Lady Linda Ramkalawan. The President highlighted the fair's timely arrival alongside the refurbishment of the National Library, urging Seychellois to purchase books from the fair to replenish the library's collection.

That same month, the National Museum of History in Seychelles hosted the 'Valorisation of Coffee' activity, where Tony Mathiot, representing the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, nostalgically revisited the country's rich coffee heritage.

Mathiot reminisced about the invigorating effect of coffee, particularly Nescafé, and contrasted it with the traditional coffee preparation methods of Seychelles' great-grandparents. He described the intense aroma and the labour-intensive process of pounding roasted coffee beans in a giant mortar, a daily routine in most households.

Coffee's history in Seychelles dates back to around 1770, with its cultivation on Ste Anne by settlers from Ile de France (Mauritius), likely the Coffeaarabica species.

In September, the first-ever All-African Artistic Dance Championships in Seychelles, celebrating its 10th anniversary, concluded with an award ceremony at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel. The event featured around 200 international dancers, including children and adults, showcasing various dance styles like rumba, marenga, salsa, cha cha, and traditional Seychellois dances such as sega and moutya.

In November, a replica of the Stone of Possession (Pierre de Possession) was unveiled on La Poudriѐre Road to mark the 267th anniversary of the French taking possession of the island of Mahé in 1756, officially declaring it a French colony. This replica, crafted by local artist James Auguste, is a significant symbol in Seychelles' history, representing the moment the archipelago was brought under the French empire.

Measuring approximately 57cm by 57cm, the stone features an engraving of the Fleur de Lys, the traditional emblem on the coat of arms of France, symbolising France's preemptive claim over the islands.

Also in November, the National Library celebrated the rich maritime and cartographic heritage of Seychelles with the opening of the exhibition 'Seychelles: Journey into the History of Maps 1482-1830'. This event, inaugurated by President Wavel Ramkalawan, showcased the evolution of map-making and Seychelles' role in global exploration.

In late November, the Seychelles National Library, undergoing renovation, received a significant boost with multiple donations. Over 25 individuals, local groups, businesses, and embassies contributed books, monetary gifts, and IT equipment, supporting the library's impending reopening in December.

In another event, the Seychelles National Institute for Culture, Heritage and the Arts, in its effort to address challenges faced by artists and artisans, initiated a policy-making project under the Unesco-Aschberg programme. This initiative aimed to revise and design regulatory frameworks to strengthen artistic freedom and other aspects, providing technical and financial assistance from Unesco.

Compiled by Sunny Esparon