The Seychelles Islands

Seychelles, officially known and recognized as the Republic of Seychelles, is an archipelago consisting of 155 islands – 115 of which are real islands, and the rest are inlets. It is located in the Indian Ocean, around 1,500 kilometers east of the African continent, and northeast of Madagascar. With a total of roughly 80,000 inhabitants as of 2005, the Republic of Seychelles has the smallest population out of all the sovereign countries in Africa.

It could be possible that the first people who set foot on this group of islands were Arabian traders. Some have speculated that it could have also been explorers hailing from as far as Southeast Asia and Oceania. However, it was the Portuguese Admiral by the name of Vasco da Gama who made the first recorded sighting of what would be known as the Seychelles Islands in the year 1502. You may know Vasco da Gama as the explorer who made the first trip to India from Europe. However, it was not until a century later, a century and seven years to be exact, for explorers to make the first recorded landing in the Seychelles. Credit is given to the crew of the ship Ascension of the English East India Company for this feat. Written accounts show that this was accomplished in 1609,

Apparently, the crew of the Ascension did not stay there permanently. Since its discovery, the Seychelles have gained notoriety. This group of islands actually served as a transit point for pirates looking to make trade deals between Africa and Asia. This went on until sometime during the year 1756. The French would eventually take control of the archipelago, naming the islands after Louis XV’s Minister of Finance, Jean Moreau de Séchelles.

The French Control

The French had complete control over Seychelles for 38 years. Then the British authorities noticed the potential of these islands, and they have made attempts to seize the islands. The French authority of the Seychelles at the time, Jean Baptiste Queau de Quincy, knew that they were helpless against a good fleet of enemy war ships which would inevitably arrive if they resisted. This being realized, he negotiated a treaty with Britain, eventually giving the settlers of the Seychelles a special position of neutrality. He would negotiate for a total of seven times.

It was all quite futile, as Britain eventually took control of the islands soon after the nation of Mauritius surrendered in 1812. Since then the Seychelles have been a crown colony, gaining independence in 1976.

The Seychelles islands never had an indigenous population. Currently the people of these islands come from descendants of the men and women who have been part of its rich history, but even more are actually immigrants – French, Indian, African, and Chinese immigrants.

The official languages of the Seychelles are French and English. The mix of people coming from significantly different parts of the world converging to this archipelago has been very contributory to its music in particular. Seychelles’ folk music is a auditory mix of polka, French pop, English contredanse, sega (which, in its modern form, is associated with other genres such as reggae), Polynesian tunes, and Indian music. Many rhythms are borne from a combination of these genres. If the music does not necessarily interest a tourist to the Seychelles, the food would definitely keep them coming back for more. Fusions between cultures simply have beautiful results in all aspects.

The Island and the Inhabitants

The people by themselves are as fascinating as they are dynamic. The natural beauty of the Seychelles naturally attracts many tourists. It is quite unfortunate that it was only during the early times of the Seychelles islands that more species exclusive to this location existed. Some examples include the resident saltwater crocodile and the Seychelles parakeet. What most will be relieved to know, however, is that compared to Mauritius and Hawaii, the Seychelles have significantly less extinctions. This is because the islands were occupied by humans for a shorter period of time (Roughly around 220 years), and, more importantly, the country has priorities when it comes to conservation of its own flora and fauna.

This strong sense of protection was partly due to the reports of scientists who have made their way there prior to permanent settlement. The difference of the ecosystem before and after human occupation was very clear even back then. Together with the Government of Seychelles, other conservationist societies (such as the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts and Island Conservation Society) have rescued some of the country’s animals from extinction, sometimes in the nick of time. There are definitely still so many interesting plants and animals to see in the Seychelles.

Seychelles also has two World Heritage Sites of UNESCO: One is Aldabra, the world’s largest atolls, and the other is the Vallée de Mai of Praslin island, which is known to many as the original location of the Garden of Eden. Other reserves include the Cousin Island Special Reserve, which is an award-winning marine and bird sanctuary known around the world, and the St. Anne National Marine Park, which is conveniently located near the Seychelles’ capital or Port Victoria. All in all, 40% of the Seychelles’ land mass is protected. Their efforts have paid well, at least to the survival of many species, some previously thought to be extinct.

The Republic of Seychelles has always been known, more now than before, as a romantic getaway. It is the country’s rich history and its drive to preserve its wildlife that contributes to what makes it so irresistible. Could it be possible that it would all go away after so much involvement from the outside world? We hope not but time will tell.