Fiesta fever hits Praslin island |06 September 2014

Under the theme ‘Solidarity amongst Praslin artists’, Praslinois welcomed their first festival in a colourful and vibrant ceremony yesterday night at Amitié.

A large crowd had graced the ceremony with their presence in the open-air launch which was held not far from the island's airport.

Simple but moving is how the ceremony can be described, with patriotic songs filling the air and bringing a sense of harmony and patriotism as both young and old performed on stage.

Praslinois artist Mike Cedras had the honour to be the first on stage with his song Zil Paradi to set the ambiance for the official opening of the festival dubbed the Praslin Culinary and Arts Fiesta.

The opening was one which showcased this enchanted island in all its unique aspects and its own culture.

Veteran Praslin musicians had their fair share of the limelight during the opening as the island's much-loved Charles Lesperance, well known as Ton Charles, enthralled the crowd with his violin.

Other mesmerising performers were the school children who staged a role play under the theme ‘Exploration of our coco-de-mer’, taking the audience on a trip down the mysterious legend of the world's largest nut and amusing those who had gathered there to witness the launch of the fiesta.

Addressing the crowd, member of the National Assembly for the Baie Ste Anne district Natasha Esther had words of thanks for Tourism and Culture Minister Alain St Ange and his team for listening to the call of the Praslin people to have their own festival.

"This event is one which touches not only the Praslin people but also the tourists coming to our shores, as it exposes our island's art and culinary secrets. It is an important activity which will give Praslin more visibility," she said.

"To make this fiesta a success, we need the support of all Praslinois. The coco-de-mer aspect of this fiesta will not destroy our island. We have taken into account the preservation and conservation aspects of this unique nut. It is not a coco-de-mer festival,” she added.

In his address to launch the Praslin Culinary & Arts Fiesta, Minister St Ange said the event is set to unify the island and reposition its tourism industry, thus boosting its economy.

"We assure the people of Praslin that we have heard their call to have an event unique to the island," he said.

When he spoke about the situation in regards to some people opposing the coco-de-mer use in this fiesta, Minister St Ange said if it is ideal for the country to export the coco-de-mer then it is good for the Praslin people to benefit from it too.

He added that Praslin needs to claim back its tourism industry and its coco-de-mer.

Minister St Ange called on Praslinois to work closely with the STB to make the island's tourism industry work.

He said every Seychellois has a role to play in conserving and defending the country's tourism industry.

Minister St Ange expressed words of thanks to the international press covering the event and urged them to tell the world about the Praslin Culinary & Arts Fiesta.

Spicing up the launch was a contemporary dance by youngsters of the island, while two of the shining stars of Praslin, brothers Selvan and Percy Cesar, were joined by Mike Cedras and Lindy Dubignon for a medley of songs.

The official opening was followed by a musical show and popular artist and comedian Joseph Sinon and his band Tanmi also spiced up the night with their much-loved music in a special Bal Kreol in the Baie Ste Anne district.

A variety of activities will be organised today at Côte d’Or in the Baie Ste Anne district. There will be sports events such as the fishing and Mini-Mahé competitions, dominoes, marathon, and beach volleyball.

The day will also be a busy one for the professional chefs taking part in the culinary competitions organised as part of the fiesta. Judging will take place at the Domaine de la Résèrve.

The judging for the non-professional chefs will take place at the Berjaya Praslin Beach Pizzeria tomorrow – the last day of the fiesta. Prizes will be given to the winners of the competitions on the same day, prior to the closing of the fiesta.

The highlight of the three-day event will be the tasting of sweet delicacies such as flans, ice-creams, parfaits, mousses and breads – all having the flavour of coco-de-mer. Flans, ice creams, parfaits, mousses will be made available in the kiosk of the Seychelles Tourism Academy for all to taste.

The following are some of the photos taken by our photographer Patrick Joubert who is on Praslin.