Culture, they say, is the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people, encompassing language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. The Seychellois culture is no different, except that it was born from the fusion of five major cultural influences namely the French, African, Indian, Malagasy and Chinese. It is a direct result of the islands colourful history of exploration, slavery and plantation life. Explorers, settlers and slaves alike brought with them their own traditions, customs, beliefs and little secrets that have been handed down to generations and undergone an assimilation process that has resulted in a fusion which has given birth to this fascinating and vibrant Seychellois culture as we know it today.
Each of these explorers, settlers and slaves contributed something unique to the religion we follow, the food that we eat, what we wear and how we wear it, our Kreol language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet our friends and visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things. All these contributions have been assimilated and adapted to the island environment and have resulted in a harmonious way of life of all Seychellois.
This blog intends to create discussions around those individual aspects of our culture. We invite your active participation and contribution that will ultimately make this site a source of comprehensive reference for all those who wish to learn more about this Creole Melting Pot.
In this page we will have posts relating to our traditional daily activities including the making of copra; how to make boucan; the different fishing methods; how to salt of fish; how to tap toddy; how to make karot taba; losonmwar and other local crafts and many many more…
LEARN MORE
If you want to explore this topic further and learn more about the culture and traditions of these small gems in the middle of the Indian Ocean, click here or on the book cover below. This will link you to our newly published book, which takes you on a journey that is “unique by a thousand miles.” It provides historical context for some of our cultural practices, deepening your appreciation of the Seychelles and hopefully inspiring you to visit, explore, and engage in these activities.
Get your copy and let us begin our journey into the rich and fascinating world of the Seychellois Creole heritage. Open these pages and begin the journey through the coconut groves, the plantations, the workshops and the paths that once linked village to village. Discover the skills, customs and stories that helped shape the Seychellois people.
We will climb coconut palms to tap toddy, discover how baka is made, follow the work of picking and husking coconuts, and learn how copra was produced, among other things. These were not merely occupations; they were part of the rhythm of life in the islands, passed from one generation to another.
Some of these traditions have survived and continue, at least in part, to this day. Others have gradually disappeared, becoming memories of an older Seychelles. Guano mining, the production of karot taba, and the cultivation of patchouli increasingly belong to that vanished world, a world worth remembering before its stories fade completely.
Click here or on the book cover to start your journey into the Seychellois Creole World.
Below are some posts that you may find interesting. Please click on the link:
Fermented Cane Juice in Seychelles-Baka Dan Sesel
Coconut-picking-and-husking-ramas-ek-plis-koko/
Making Copra in a Calorifer- Fer Kopra dan Kalorifer
The Bamboo fish traps of Seychelles – Kazye Banbou Seselwa
Traditional Charcoal Making in Seychelles- Sarbon Lokal
Traditional Harpooning in Seychelles
Bamboo water pipe – Tiyo Ladal
The Cinnamon in Seychelles- A Brief History
Plantation Life on Silhouette Island in the late 1960
