Seychellois Creole People
Encyclopedia
'Creole' is a word used in the Seychelles
to refer to those native to the country of whichever ancestry.
The majority of people living in the Seychelles are creole. They are principally of African and Malagasy
origin. However, the Creole people today also include people of mixed African, Malagasy, Indian, Chinese, French and British origins.
. Their origins lie in East Africa
, and, to a lesser extent, Madagascar
.
The Seychellois music genre of Sega
is known as Moutia.
Seychellois Creoles are proud of their African/Malagasy
heritage and have set up a Creole institute in Mahé to help promote and to help others understand their culture. Unlike Mauritius, where Creole has no official status, the Seychelles have made Creole one of the three official languages along with French and English.
, with Protestant, Anglican, Adventist
and other Christian
minorities. The remainder are Spiritualists or Non-religious. The language spoken by all is Seychellois Creole
, French and English are also widely understood.
Seychelles
Seychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
to refer to those native to the country of whichever ancestry.
The majority of people living in the Seychelles are creole. They are principally of African and Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
origin. However, the Creole people today also include people of mixed African, Malagasy, Indian, Chinese, French and British origins.
Origins
Africans and Malagasy were brought as slaves to work on sugar and coffee plantations. These slaves were the last to be introduced to the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. Their origins lie in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, and, to a lesser extent, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
.
Creoles Today
Today Creoles are found throughout the Seychelles, numbering roughly 76,000; more than 70% of the entire Seychellois population. They are the dominant group in Politics.The Seychellois music genre of Sega
Sega music
Sega music or Séga is the major music of the Mascarene Islands: Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues as well as of the Seychelles. Sega is similar to the Réunionnais music genre maloya. Another form of dance similar to the sega is the Seychellois moutya. Sega music originated among the slave...
is known as Moutia.
Seychellois Creoles are proud of their African/Malagasy
Malagasy people
The Malagasy ethnic group forms nearly the entire population of Madagascar. They are divided into two subgroups: the "Highlander" Merina, Sihanaka and Betsileo of the central plateau around Antananarivo, Alaotra and Fianarantsoa, and the côtiers elsewhere in the country. This division has its...
heritage and have set up a Creole institute in Mahé to help promote and to help others understand their culture. Unlike Mauritius, where Creole has no official status, the Seychelles have made Creole one of the three official languages along with French and English.
Demographical factors
Almost the entire population belongs to one of the Christian denominations, largely CatholicCatholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, with Protestant, Anglican, Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...
and other Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
minorities. The remainder are Spiritualists or Non-religious. The language spoken by all is Seychellois Creole
Seychellois Creole
Seychellois Creole, also known as Kreol or Seselwa, is the French-based creole language of the Seychelles. It shares official language status with English and French ....
, French and English are also widely understood.