Seychelles is a stable presidential republic with a history of one-party rule and a peaceful return to multiparty democracy. Its vibrant Creole heritage shaped by African, European, and Asian influences manifests in language, music, dance, and cuisine, with traditions like the UNESCO-inscribed Moutya dance symbolizing national identity. Geographically, the nation comprises over 150 islands, characterized by granitic peaks and coral atolls, and enjoys a uniformly tropical, oceanic climate moderated by trade winds.
Political Overview
Under the constitution adopted in 1993, Seychelles operates as a multiparty presidential republic in which the president serves as both head of state and head of government for a five-year term, renewable once. Executive authority rests with the president and appointed cabinet, while legislative power is vested in a unicameral National Assembly of 34 members 25 elected in single-member constituencies and 9 by proportional representation. Since independence from the United Kingdom on June 29, 1976, Seychelles experienced a one-party socialist period following a bloodless coup in 1977, before restoring multiparty elections in 1993. In the most recent national elections held in October 2020, opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan won the presidency, marking the first peaceful transfer of power to an opposition party in the country’s modern democratic era.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
Seychellois culture is rooted in a rich Creole identity, reflecting a fusion of African, European (notably French and British), and Asian (largely Indian and Chinese) influences, which is evident in its primary language Seychellois Creole and the widespread use of English and French as official languages. Traditional music and dance play a central role in cultural life, with the Moutya a drum-driven dance that narrates communal experiences garnering UNESCO recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in 2021. The National Institute of Culture, Heritage & The Arts champions the preservation and promotion of Creole art forms, crafts, and culinary traditions, ensuring that festivals such as Festival Kreol and Carnaval International de Victoria celebrate and transmit these living traditions to younger generations.
Geographical Landscape and Climate
Spanning 155 constitutionally recognized islands (42 granitic and 113 coral), Seychelles sits in the western Indian Ocean, with Mahé the largest island hosting roughly 90% of the population and the capital, Victoria. The inner granitic islands are characterized by rugged mountain peaks rising to nearly 1,000 m, cloaked in verdant forests and laced with freshwater streams, while the outer coralline atolls feature flat, low-lying terrain fringed by white-sand beaches and turquoise lagoons. The climate is classified as tropical rainforest (Af), with temperatures on Mahé ranging from 24 °C at night to around 31 °C by day and annual rainfall varying from 2,300 mm at sea level to over 3,500 mm in the mountains; southeast trade winds between May and November offer cooler, drier conditions, whereas the wet season peaks between December and March.
