Seychelles is an African country comprising 115 small islands and is popular around the globe for its amazing geographic landscape. In Seychelles, you can find people of different races and religions. Therefore, Seychelle's culture is vibrant and showcases the culture of different people of various nationalities who settled there over the years. Likewise, the cultural the traditional dresses of Seychelles are also a peculiar mix of divergent people.

If you are interested in Seychelles and curious about its colorful culture's distinctive features, you have reached the right place. So, sip your coffee, continue to read, and learn more about Seychelles' culture, traditional clothing, food, and dance with us!

Culture Of Seychelles

More than 90,000 individuals are living in Seychelles; most of them are Christians, while the followers are Islam and Hinduism also lives there. The official language of Seychelles is English, Creole, and French. The people of Seychelles are very friendly and are kind to the travelers. They also invite tourists to their homes. So, if you get an invitation, remember to take a gift for them as it is a custom of this place. Compared to its neighbors (Maldives and Mauritius), Seychelles is quiet, and most islands are uninhabited.

As most locals are immigrants, you witness the impact of Europeans, Indians, French, and Africans on their culture. The diversity of culture can be seen in the locals' music, art, theater, and dances. What might surprise you is that they are a matriarchal society where the females used to be the heads of homes. The women run the families, make decisions, and play a dominant household role. Besides that, the social status and race are key in selecting the partners. Both males and females inherit the property equally as per the law.

Festivals of Seychelles

The following are the famous festivals of Seychelles:

• The Creole Festival: During this festival, you can find the different ethnic groups in one place simultaneously. Therefore, you would like to attend this festival. The festival is held in October, and the celebrations continue for the whole week. The festival is organized on three islands: Mahe, La Digue, and Praslin.
• Feast of the Assumption of Mary: It is a local festival celebrated in La Digue island. Some devotes from other islands also join this festival. It is a religiously significant festival and is held in the church.
• Seychelles Ocean Festival: The underwater festival is celebrated every year in December. Different types of school events, photographic competitions, and diving events are organized. The purpose of this festival is to remind the locals about their underwater reserves and to tell them how important it is to protect those reserves.

Traditional Clothing of Seychelles

While walking around the Seychelles, you will feel that the locals do not dress up in business; instead, you will find the locals in Creole dresses. They prefer the comfortable clothing and wear the formal suits while visiting the church.

Penwar and Kazak are the traditional dresses of Seychelles. Kazak is a waist-length, long-served blouse that was popular in the 1800s. The penwar is a famous dress for women. It is made from chiffon or any other translucent fabrics.

It is generally thought that European costumes influenced these costumes during the colonial era. The hats, shoes, and clothes were also imported from France during that era. The jackets and ruffled shirts of French descent were also available for the men. Ladies wore long dresses with multiple layers of petticoats decorated by the laces.

The locals wear national costumes at the official events (both nationally and internationally) to show respect to Seychelles. Besides that, they wear these dresses at any other event decided by the government. Economic factors and tropical climates are the other factors that have influenced the ways of dressing. Therefore, most clothes are made from cotton suitable for the humid weather of tropical climates.

Traditional Dances of Seychelles

Different cultures influence the music of Seychelles. Therefore, the music of music of Seychelles has become unique and varied. Just like the music, you can also witness the impact of different cultures on its dances. There are different traditional dances in Seychelles in which the dancers wear elaborate costumes while dancing. Moutya and Sega are the two popular dances in Seychelles:

• Sega Dance: When Europeans and people from neighboring islands came to Seychelles, they brought many Africans as enslaved people. The Sage dance is promoted by enslaved people in Seychelles. Sega dance is performed with instruments like gourds, rattles, hand drums, and musical bows. The dancers keep their feet on the ground and move their bodies when dancing.
• Moutya Dance: It is another type of famous dance which you may also know as the Montea. In this dance, the performers, especially females, wear flowery dresses decorated with different motifs, making this traditional dance more appealing. The dancers move their bodies freely on the dancing floor. Traditionally, this dance was used to perform around the campfire. The dance starts with the drum beat and gradually gets faster.

Cuisine of Seychelles

You can see the influence of Asia, Africa, and Europe on the cuisine of Seychelles. Fish makes the major part of the food while coriander, tamarind, lemongrass, and ginger are a few of the most commonly used spices. Different fish preparations include grilled, baked, steamed, and smoked fish. Most of the time, rice is served with seafood.

Along with the spices, the coconut milk is used to flavor the food. The people of Seychelles use the fresh flowers to decorate their food. Ladob, shark chutney, cassava pudding, and fruit bat-based food are popular here. The locals love to have coconut water and fruit juices. The country owns many multi-cuisine restaurants. You can visit any of them to treat your taste buds.

Conclusion:

Seychelles owns so many beautiful beaches, natural reserves, and coral reefs. Therefore, it attracts thousands of travelers around the globe every year. The Seychelles' natural beauty and vibrant culture, art, dance, and cuisine are so special. From their food to clothes and from culture to music, you can witness the influence of various nations, which ultimately makes the Seychelles so special and unique!