GERMANY’S CARNIVAL HOTSPOTS TAKE KEEN INTEREST IN SEYCHELLES EVENT
(Posted 08th March 2014)
From the Seychelles to the main carnival parade in Duesseldorf / Germany, one of Deutschland’s carnival hotspots and back again from Duesseldorf to Victoria is the road (or rather ‘air ways’) groups from both cities were and will be taking to keep the flame of global carnival festivals burning bright.
For the first time ever has the Seychelles sent a troupe of performers from Victoria to Germany to be part of the main parade in Duesseldorf, which is watched by hundreds of thousands of people ‘live’ from the road sides and from specially erected stands and by millions more on television as one of the great carnival parades from around the world. Dressed up warmly to brace the low temperatures in Germany at this time of the year did the Seychelles’ performers nevertheless bring a glimpse of the tropics to German carnival fans, undoubtedly enticing many to think of finally making that trip of a lifetime to the archipelago a reality and come see the same performers dance down the main street of Victoria when the Carnival International de Victoria takes place between the 25th and 27th of April.
A major presence from the Duesseldorf Carnival Organization will be present in the Seychelles to perform and dozens of their followers are likely to also fly out to the islands to enjoy a carnival in tropical sunshine and warm weather in an event which has been catching up in popularity with the much better known South American parades in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
As another innovation have the organizers of the Victoria carnival also confirmed that there will be a dedicated ‘Kiddies Carnival’ on Sunday, 27th of April and the Seychelles Tourism Board has just release the following media brief about the added range of activities:
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‘Carnival is not just for grown-ups. Children too, take the pleasure of taking to the streets and let themselves be carried by the joyful blur of carnival. In the coming edition of the 2014 Seychelles Carnival International de Victoria, children will get their chance to strut their stuff on stages, in costume just as fabulous as the grown-up versions.
The Seychelles Tourism Board, the main organiser of Seychelles Carnival International de Victoria has introduced a “Kiddies Carnival” or children’s carnival to spice up the traditional family fun day organised Sunday 27th April, the last day of the carnival.
Seychelles Tourism Board has brought on board, Lima Calbio, the well known entertainer from Trinidad and Tobago to work on the “Kiddies Carnival”.
The “Kiddies Carnival” is open for school children only aged 5 to 12. All schools will be given a theme to work on. The will make their own costume with locally made fabrics. The day of “Kiddies Carnival’’ they will show their moves across the stage in their brightly coloured costumes, before a panel of judges and also the local and international media, present to cover Seychelles Carnival International de Victoria. Colourful costumes, biggest band and teams which portray the real carnival spirit will be awarded with prizes. Lima Calbio said she will work closely with the schools to make this first Seychelles “ Kiddies Carnival” possible.
“Children need to be embedded with the spirit of developing their creativity. Kiddies carnival is a good example where we will make it inexpensive for schools to come out with fascinating costumes’’
“Kiddies carnival is encouraging children to promote the concept of recycling materials. Nathalie Didon, Deputy Chief Executive of Seychelles Tourism Board said that “Kiddies carnival’’ is promoting an environmental friendly approach among children.
“What we’re anticipating is to promote an environmental friendly approach to carnival, where school children will be parading, by making use of the three Rs, reduce, recycle and reuse, to prepare their costumes. Kiddies carnival is also there to inculcate the culture of Seychelles carnival in our children’’ Nathalie Didon said.
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Way to go Seychelles and see you in Victoria for the Carnaval de Carnivals, the Carnival International de Victoria. Kenya Airways connects to the Seychelles four times a week from Nairobi and Air Seychelles has regular flights from Johannesburg to Mahe, while Emirates flies 12 times a week and Air Seychelles / Etihad have multiple daily connections from Abu Dhabi, and beyond, to Mahe too. For more information visit www.seychelles.travel
