Creole Heritage Festival Returns to Victoria with Record Attendance
This year's festival drew over 12,000 visitors across three days, celebrating the rich tapestry of Seychellois Creole culture through music, food, and storytelling.
Jean-Pierre Morel
The annual Creole Heritage Festival returned to Victoria's waterfront this weekend with record-breaking attendance, drawing over 12,000 visitors across three days of celebration. The festival, now in its 18th year, showcased the rich tapestry of Seychellois Creole culture through music, traditional cuisine, storytelling, and artisan crafts.
Highlights included a live performance by legendary sega musician Antoine Payet, a traditional cooking competition featuring recipes passed down through generations, and a new exhibition on the history of the Creole language in Seychelles.
Organisers say the record turnout reflects a growing pride in Creole identity among younger Seychellois. "Our culture is not a museum piece," said festival director Claudette Barra. "It is alive, evolving, and deeply relevant to who we are today."
The festival also featured a dedicated diaspora pavilion, where Seychellois living abroad shared their experiences of maintaining cultural connections from afar.
