Seychellois Creole people
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Seychellois Creole people /seɪˈʃɛlwɑː ˈkrioʊl/ are a nation and ethnic group native to Seychelles, who speak Seychellois Creole. They are the predominant ethnic group in the country.[1]
The majority of the people living in the Seychelles are referred to as Seychellois. They are said to be mainly of East African and Malagasy origin. However, as they are a mix of East African, Malagasy, Indian, Chinese, British and French, the Seychellois people's origin is diverse.
Origins
Originally slaves from Africa and all over the world who were transported to Seychelles to work on various fields and plantations. They were known for being the last slaves to be introduced to the Indian Ocean. The people are a mix of the slave races that were introduced to the islands by the British and French.
Distribution
Today, Seychellois are dispersed throughout Seychelles. They number roughly 76,000, which is more than 70% of the entire Seychellois population. The Seychellois are the dominant group in politics.
The Seychellois music genre of Sega is known as Moutia.
The Seychellois people are proud of their African heritage and set up a Creole institute in Mahé to help promote their culture and to help others understand it. Unlike Mauritius, where Creole has no official status, the Seychelles have made Creole one of their three official languages, along with French and English.
Demographics
Like most of the country's population, the majority of Seychellois identify as Christians. Most of them are Catholic, with Protestant, Anglican, Adventist and other Christian denominations in the minority. The remainder of the population are either Hindu or Muslim. Seychellois Creole is the commonly spoken language, but English and French are also understood as they are widely taught in schools.
References
- ^ Robert Chaudenson (2001). Creolization of Language and Culture. CRC press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-203-44029-2.