FetAfrik in full swing |26 May 2017

FetAfrik 2017 is in full swing after it started yesterday with a series of activities at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS).  

The theme for this year’s Africa Day is ‘Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth’.

Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Idith Alexander, Indian high commissioner, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, culture principal secretary Benjamine Rose, member of the National Assembly for St Louis Sandy Arrisol were among those who attended the official ceremony.

FetAfrik is a multi-artistic festival, a colourful expression of African and Kreol culture and also it is the Seychellois way of celebrating Africa Day ‒ celebrated from May 25-27. This year, it is the Creative Industries and National Events Agency (Cinea) who is organising the event.

Cinea chief executive Galen Bresson officially launched the programme and shared that “Seychelles, the smallest member of the African Union, took up the challenge and today we can proudly say that we have achieved a lot where others might have failed”.

“Seychelles is now a high income country due to the commitment of our government in putting the people at the centre of our development. Our success has been a source of inspiration for a lot of African countries who want to learn from us. We are the pride of Africa,” added Mr Bresson.

Talking about the theme for this year, Mr Bresson said it is “a reminder of how important the young people of Africa are an enormous resource for the continent’s development. In Seychelles this theme has been the centre of our development for years as our government has and will continue to create opportunities for complete development of our youth, offering them the opportunity to be what they want to be.”

He also noted that the youth department and the Seychelles National Youth Council (SNYC) ensure that the youth of Seychelles have all the necessary tools, infrastructure and guidance to fulfill their dreams and aspiration for they are the leaders of tomorrow.

“We celebrate Africa Day in Seychelles as FetAfrik with various activities to ensure that we never forget our African heritage and our history. It is also an opportunity where we as a nation come together with all African countries to recognise our ancestors’ contributions in making us the proud Seychellois nation we are today,” Mr Bresson added.

This annual event was first celebrated in Seychelles in 1999 and has since gained in popularity as it has seen the involvement of renowned regional artists.

During yesterday’s official opening, there was a a reviving piece of African drum by Archille Luc, a moving poem entitled ‘Lafrik’ by Raspyek featuring Angelique Allisop and Vincent Milius. People of African descents currently living in Seychelles came together under the African Community Association banner and they were dressed in beautiful traditional outfits as they sang the song ‘We are proud to be African’ and also performed an African fashion parade.

A new creole fiction book Zistwar Misterye written by the late Leon Bonnelame was also launched during the ceremony which was followed by a colloquium on ‘Red, Gold, Black and Green’ animated by former minister Peter Sinon. Members of the public had the chance to reflect and debate on Africanism-struggle for black people’s emancipation and liberation.

In the ICCS car park, an African bazar is ongoing.

The accompanying photos show highlights of the opening ceremony yesterday.