: Seychelles - Information related to Intangible Cultural Heritage
Other sources of information 
Within UNESCO:
World Heritage in this country
- Date of deposit of instrument: 15-02-2005
- UNESCO Regional Officer for Intangible Heritage: Yoshida, Reiko
Following information is provided for easy reference, but has no official status. For comments or to update information, please contact the regional officer concerned via ich@unesco.org.
Legislation
The National Copyright Act (1982)
This Act gives protection to the intangible heritage of Seychelles under Section 7 – Copyright in Seychelles Folklore. The Section stipulates that the copyright may be exercised on behalf of the Republic by the Minister and that licenses in respect to those rights may be granted by the Minister. The Minister provides the license with the right to use any aspects of the folklore provided that it is used in a positive image manner enhancing cultural values of the country.
Cultural Heritage Protection and Copyright Office
It has been set up with the mandate to implement the laws and legislations stipulated by the Copyright Act. It is there also to implement protocols and policy regarding foreign researchers wishing to conduct work in Seychelles.
National Monument Act/National Archives Act
Tangible cultural heritage in terms of movable and immovable property is protected under the National Monuments Act which was revised in 1991. Seychelles also has a National Archives Act which is currently under revision.
National Cultural Policy
The establishment of a revised “National Cultural Policy”, is aimed to be the vanguard in the safeguarding of the values and traditions of the Seychellois society. With new developments and changes that are taking place, it will enable Seychelles to establish a more systematic and scientific approach in the development of arts and cultural programs. It will also help to meet the cultural needs at all levels in the community which will eventually benefit the individual, as well as the society.
Inventory making
The National Heritage Research Section has started collecting various aspects of the Seychellois folklore since 1980. To date, it has quite a significant archive which consists of both sound and text materials transcribed from interviews throughout the Seychelles. The current inventory covers songs, dances, stories, legends, myths, anecdotes, riddles, lullabies, traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants and the flora and fauna of Seychelles. The materials collected through fieldwork are published upon the availability of funds. The database of the collected materials is often accessed by students, and also scholars at both national, regional and international level.
Other national initiatives
Festivals
Seychelles is a country with a diverse culture – often referred to as a “melting pot” of cultural diversity with origins from Europe, Africa and Asia. This cultural diversity manifests itself through three major cultural festivals:
- La Semaine de la Francophonie – where the Seychellois people celebrate the French/European side of their cultural Heritage. The dates for the “Semaine la Francophonie” revolves around the” Journée de la Francophonie”, 21st March.
- FETAFRIK – Revolves around 25th May, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Day. The Seychellois people participate in various cultural activities to celebrate the African side of their Heritage and their ties with mainland Africa.
- KREOL FESTIVAL – This is the highlight of the cultural calendar of Seychelles. During the last week of October, Seychelles celebrates the fusion of all the different aspects of their cultural heritage which makes us the Kreol People that we are.
Other than these three major festivals, other activities are held both on a national level and at community level.
The National Heritage Research Section
For the past 24 years, the National Heritage Research Section has carried out extensive research on oral and intangible heritage of Seychelles. The mission of the National Heritage Research Section is to conduct research on the full spectrum of the Seychelles cultural heritage, promotion and preservation. Through interviews and recording on audio cassettes songs, medicinal knowledge, culinary arts, folktales, riddles, traditional wedding, fishing communities to name a few has been collected, transcribed, documented and preserved for future referencing. Some of these materials have been published into books, calendars and also exhibitions.
There are other institutions which have also shown interest and produced work related to intangible heritage. The Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) radio archives has prepared and presented several documentaries on Seychelle’s’ cultural heritage. Several individuals have produced and published various aspects of the Seychelles intangible heritage. “IROGRIF” is a Seychellois Writers Association that promotes literary work on Seychelles cultural heritage while the Kreol Institute promotes the Creole language and the development of Creole as a language.
