SELECTION OF CARNIVAL SONG KICKS OFF SEYCHELLES’ FIFTH CARNIVAL SEASON
(Posted 08th February 2015)
In the short space of just five years has the ‘Carnaval de Carnivals’, the Seychelles’ version which brings together performing troupes from across the world of carnivals, become one of the global top five. Huge media attention is given to the juggernaut of carnivalistas as they move through the streets of Victoria, representing the very best there is, from the Brazilian carnival to Trinidad and Tobago to Notting Hill and the German ‘Karneval Vereine’ from Cologne and Duesseldorf.
Additionally do carnivalistas come to Mahe from India, China and other parts of Asia and notably more and more groups from the African mainland, keen to showcase their versions of the silly season where colourful costumes blended with tribal dance performances show off in the Seychelles.
Last night was the 2015 Carnival song selected in a very competitive set up where some of the archipelago’s leading musicians and singers performed, aiming to capture the cash prize but more so the glory of having their creation become an earworm over the coming weeks.
It is 75 days and counting today to the start of the 2015 carnival festival and bookings have reportedly been coming in thick and fast from those who just got to have one more go to show off their skills, after the European and South American carnival season closes at the stroke of midnight, when Ash Wednesday rings in.
Very notably has the carnival concept, initially somewhat alien to the Seychellois, taken deep roots and every year do more and more companies and individuals participate with floats. Not only have numbers grown but has the quality visibly improved from year to year, so the 5th edition will no doubt bring forth new highlights for the spectators as every float and troupe will vie to be declared by the judges as the best in its category.
Added last year was a childrens’ carnival on the closing day and judging from the success of creating the next generation of local carnivalistas it is safe to assume that the 2015 Children’s carnival will equally bring out the best of the little ones as they show off their costumes put together by the moms and aunties. Come the 24th of April this year will the eyes of the carnival world once again be on the Seychelles for the three day festival.
Seychelles – truly Another World.
2 Responses
It would be good to know the results of that song competition!
It seems that in the run-up to the competition the judges were concerned about outside influences on the music of Seychelles, particularly from Brazil and Trinidad. This is hardly surprising, given the presence of those countries in the carnival itself, and certainly soca beats were evident in some of the songs played on the road for the Seychellois costume groups.
The fears seem rather inexplicable when so many Seychellois musicians play reggae or seggae (sega-reggae fusion). Country & western and zouk music are also hugely popular and widely played. Like the Seychellois themselves, Seychelles music already incorporates influences drawn from Africa, Europe and Asia, so a couple more styles are hardly likely to cause lasting damage.
As well as preparing for the Carnaval International de Victoria, Seychelles is already looking forward to the 30th Festival Kreol in October, with the prospect of a purpose-built music stadium for the opening concert. Again, more details would be helpful.
Clearly, Seychelles wants to increase its standing as a destination for cultural tourism and it offers some excellent products, but I feel more could still be done. Putting on shows is all well and good, but the impact is lost without appropriate and timely promotion. More involvement of the hotels in offering carnival and festival packages would be helpful, and co-ordination of cruise calls with these events needs to be organised.
The result of the song competition will be featured here soon Stephen. As always I appreciate your input on my blog. Hope to see you at the carnival?
W.