Culture department resumes new season of culture talks |03 March 2012

“The popularity of Culture Talks has grown surely and steadily over the past year as a platform of intellectual interest not only among Seychellois, but also many foreign local residents,” said a spokesperson from the culture department.
“Culture is not simply about cultural traditions, cultural expressions, or a way of life, but also about the intellectual development of a people or nation,” he said.

“This is why we invite experts from all fields to talk to us because culture is at the core of every aspect of our lives and is related to all areas of our national development,” he added.

The culture department will soon launch another season of Culture Talks, starting Wednesday March 7, at 4.30pm at the National Cultural Centre, on the History of the Jacobins sent in exile to Seychelles and the Comoros by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1800.

The two-part lecture will be presented by French historian Richard Touboul, who will trace the history of the Jacobin and their deportation to our islands; followed by what lecturer and well known historian William McAteer describes as “the best known naval action in Seychelles”, which took place between a French frigate the Chiffone and an English frigate, the Sybille in 1801.

Students, academics, as well as any member of the public with an interest in the history of Seychelles will enjoy and benefit from the research findings of the two historians.

Other lecturers scheduled for the first quarter beginning in March, are Pat Matyot, who will present From Marianne North to du Jie: Seychelles in World Art on a number foreign artists who have visited or lived and painted in Seychelles, prior to Independence. This will be followed by Jasper van Westhuizen, a management and leadership expert from South Africa.

In April, Melina Barra, a speech pathologist, will explain the problems of children challenged by language and speech in Literacy for Life; and writer-birdwatcher Adrian Skerrett will tell us about the Birds of Seychelles: Where do they all come from?

In May, environmentalist Michele Martin will present her Ph.D thesis on Kreolizing Environmental Education; and Jean-Claude Mahoune, anthropologist and historian from the culture department will be the main speaker in a presentation to commemorate Africa Day on May 25, which will also include a performance of African drumming and a short film about African music.

Anyone interested in presenting a lecture, or attending Culture Talks, or getting onto our mailing list, should e-mail us on: poliplan@macs.sc, or contact Peter Pierre-Louis on 4321 154, or Gabriel Essack on 2723 460  for further information.