AS THE FESTIVAL KREOL 2016 COMES TO AN END DOES ATTENDANCE AND ATTENTION CONFIRM ITS UNITING CHARACTER FOR THE SEYCHELLES
(Posted 31st October 2016)
‘We must keep supporting Festival Kreol as it unites us as the Seychellois people‘ said Alain St. Ange, who prior to the restructuring of the cabinet was also the country’s culture minister.
The Festival Kreol, first launched in 1985, he went on to say ‘is a celebration of our Seychellois culture in all its aspects and we must keep supporting it as this event unites us as a nation‘.
The former Minister for Culture Alain St.Ange who now heads the Ministry for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, echoed these words in his address during the official ceremony to mark the International Creole Day.
Minister St.Ange who was also the President of the Festival Kreol organising committee said the event is a reminder that we are one people with one beautiful culture which we must preserve and appreciate.
He thanked those who had come down to Stad Popiler to give their support and for believing in their Creole identity and culture.
‘Festival Kreol marks us as it gives us the chance to showcase what we are as a nation – the Creole people‘ he added before concluding ‘Our friends from other Creole-speaking countries have joined us again, and together we have one aim and that is to keep promoting our Creole identity‘.
Minister St.Ange said these such events help us to appreciate where we are and the fact that we live in a peaceful countryside where there is stability.
These words were said just after the colourful procession called Laserenad, had snaked through Stad Popiler as the sun set over Victoria. Young and old dressed in locally-made outfits, danced their way in the stadium to the beats of spicy traditional music such as tinge, the sega and moutia.
Attending the ceremony were the President Danny Faure, Vice-President Vincent Meriton, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Pillay, President of the Regional Council of Reunion Didier Robert, Présidente de la commission coopération régionale, Europe et international Faouzia Vitry, Ministers, The Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly Charles de Commarmond and other high ranking government officials.
Also gracing the ceremony with their presence were members of the diplomatic corps as well as those of the National Assembly, Miss Seychelles Another World 2016 Christine Barbier and Miss Creole des îles international Omegan Jean-Marie Ciseau.
The Creole Institute was used as this year’s theme for the stage decor. On stage the mistress of ceremony, who is also an actress Jenita Laporte joined others to speak about the Creole Day as well as the language itself. Marie-Therese Choppy was among those taking part in this official ceremony.
Minister St.Ange who delivered his last speech as the Minister responsible for Culture marked the evening by presenting to Seychelles what he calls Gitar Koko Seychelles.
The guitar with a base made from the coco-de-mer nut was officially launched and the first which one made was presented to President Faure by Minister St.Ange.
During the ceremony, several performances from artists of the Creole world were enjoyed by all those who were present.
For more information about this and other festivals staged in the Seychelles check out www.seychelles.travel
