SEYCHELLES TOURISM ANNOUNCES DATES FOR THE 2015 CARNAVAL DE CARNIVALS
(Posted 24th April 2014)
As the ‘Carnivalista Fever’ is now spreading across the Seychelles, and the opening salvo just 40 hours away at the Stade Popilar, where all participating troupes from around the world will dance, sing and perhaps even somersault in front of the arguably largest crowd assembled yet at any of the launch nights of the increasingly popular festival, has Tourism Seychelles used the opportunity to announce the dates for next year already.
The world of carnivals will come to the islands for the period of April 24th to 26th and going by expressions of regret that many were unable to come this year, it is very likely that the 2015 edition will be a sell out as the popularity of the colourful parade spreads further and further.
Full scale delegations this year come from Brazil, China, Germany, the UK, Indonesia, South Africa, Reunion, Rodrigues, South Korea, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago and also from Mozambique, which together with the Kingdom of Bhutan, Switzerland and Bangladesh are first time attendees. Other countries present will be Italy, Kenya, Madagascar, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Michael Quinn and the Bourbon Kings and Lisa Harley and Zydekats from the United States will also perform at the opening night on Friday.
The foreign participation will be boosted by now 26 local floats put together by such leading companies like Air Seychelles, the Kempinski Seychelles Resort, the Constance Ephelia Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove and the Seychelles Tourism Academy among many others.
Notably has Mauritius withdrawn their participation this year, even though the privately arranged presence of a troupe last year proved to be a crowd puller, turning into one of the most photographed performances of them all. Their absence at the last minute raised multiple questions but of course were no answers forthcoming for the over 150 journalists from around the world who were left bewildered when the news were broken to them. Many suspected some heavy armwrestling behind the scenes from the usual suspects causing Mauritius to again go AWOL.
That however was the only downside to the enthusiasm which is already sweeping the capital Victoria, where decorations and huge banners have gone up over the past few days, where a route map has been published to allow locals and foreign visitors to select their vantage points to see the parade juggernaut waltz by on Saturday afternoon before on Sunday a special Kid’s Carnival will take place and a Grand Farewell party on Sunday will bring this year’s festival to a close in a colourful finale.
For those who miss the fun this year be sure to join the global ‘Carnivalistas’ next year and experience Africa’ wildest ‘Mother of all Carnivals’.
For added information about the Seychelles islands visit www.seychelles.travel
2 Responses
Hi, My name is Henry, I am an Afro-Irish citizen living in Ireland.
I and some of my friends/work colleagues would so much love to attend the 2015 Seychelles Carnival to have a diverse, exotic and rich flavour of ‘Africa meeting the rest of the world…’
Having watched the CNN Documentary of the 2014 Carnival, I knew this is exactly the package a lot of us Afro-Westerners have been waiting for.
Please I urgently need direction and guide on where to search for more information about Seychelles and how to get a good package for the 2015 Seychelles Carnival.
I must admit I am very strongly sentimental about this Seychelles Carnival cos for me, it is a ‘Home-Call’ and also an opportunity to let me friends enjoy a little bit of what my roots have to offer….
My friends/colleagues are also very excited about coming to party on an Island of Africa…..the only word that describes how they feel about it is ‘Exotic’.
May I also say ‘Well Done’ to all the innovative & creative persons who saw this vision.
Kindest Regards – Henry.
Check out http://www.seychelles.travel for a range of details about accommodation and in particular the carnival festival. See you in the Seychelles next April?
Thanks for reading my blog.
W.