Seychelles is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, an archipelago of 115 islands lying northeast of Madagascar, far from any continent. Famous for its idyllic beaches of white sand and granite boulders, its turquoise seas, and its rare wildlife, it is a tropical paradise and one of the world's most exclusive holiday destinations. The smallest sovereign African country by population, it is also one of the wealthiest, having built prosperity on tourism and fishing in its vast ocean territory.
The Seychelles islands were uninhabited until the eighteenth century, when the French claimed and settled them, bringing enslaved Africans to work small plantations. The British took the islands during the Napoleonic Wars and ruled them as a colony, and after the abolition of slavery the population was supplemented by liberated slaves and others, producing a Creole society. Seychelles gained independence in 1976, and after a period of one-party socialist rule, it returned to multiparty democracy, building an economy on its extraordinary natural beauty.
Seychelles is unusual among ocean islands in that its inner group is made of granite, ancient fragments of a continent that broke apart long ago, rather than coral or volcano, giving rise to dramatic landscapes of huge weathered boulders, forested peaks, and beaches. Beyond these inner islands lie scattered low coral islands and atolls, including the vast Aldabra, home to giant tortoises. The warm tropical seas, coral reefs, and rich marine life, together with unique plants such as the giant coco de mer palm, make the archipelago a natural wonder.
The flag of Seychelles is a striking and dynamic design of five bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green radiating from the lower hoist corner like rays. The blue represents the sky and the sea, the yellow the sun, the red the people and their work and unity, the white social justice and harmony, and the green the land and natural environment. The radiating pattern is meant to symbolise a young and dynamic country moving forward into the future.
Seychelles is overwhelmingly Christian, the legacy of French and British rule, with the great majority belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, reflecting the French heritage, alongside smaller Anglican and other Protestant communities. As in other Creole societies, Catholic practice has sometimes coexisted with older folk beliefs and a tradition of spirit magic. Religion is woven into the culture and festivals of the islands, and the country is generally marked by tolerance among its various faiths.
Seychellois cuisine is Creole, built on fish and rice and flavoured with the spices, coconut, and fruit of the tropics. Fresh fish, abundant in the surrounding ocean, is the centrepiece of most meals, grilled, curried, or in salads, often cooked with coconut milk, ginger, and chili in fragrant Creole curries. Rice is the staple accompaniment, along with breadfruit and tropical fruit. The cuisine blends African, French, Indian, and Asian influences, reflecting the mixed origins of the islands' people.
Agriculture plays a small role in the economy of Seychelles, limited by the rugged terrain of the granite islands and the small land area, and the country imports most of its food. What farming exists grows coconuts, cinnamon, fruit, and vegetables, often on a small scale. Far more important are the sea and the islands' beauty: fishing, especially for tuna, is a major industry and export, and tourism, drawn by the spectacular beaches and nature, is the leading pillar of one of Africa's wealthiest economies.
The settlement of the uninhabited islands by the French, the era of slavery, and the building of a Creole society shaped Seychelles. Independence came in 1976, followed by a coup and years of one-party socialist rule before a return to democracy. In modern times the country has won particular praise as a pioneer of marine and environmental conservation, protecting huge areas of its ocean and its unique wildlife, while building a prosperous economy on high-end tourism and fishing.
Seychelles has a population of only around 100,000 people, the smallest of any sovereign African state, made up mainly of Seychellois Creoles of mixed African, European, and Asian descent, with smaller communities of other origins. Most people speak Seychellois Creole, a French-based language, alongside the official English and French. The population is concentrated on the main island of Mahe, especially in and around the small capital, Victoria, while many of the outer islands are uninhabited or home to only a handful of people.
