The Republic of Seychelles is an archipelago country in the Indian Ocean, located about 1,500 kilometers east of the East African coast.
The first Europeans to set foot on the islands were the British. The landing took place in 1690, during the fourth voyage of the British East India Company.
France began to take control of the archipelago in the mid-18th century. That’s when the islands received their current name. The French named their new possession in honor of Jean Moreau de Séchelles, an official and politician who served as Louis XV’s minister of finance from 1754 to 1756.
The British contested the archipelago in 1794. Instead of putting up a fight, the French administrator of the Seychelles surrendered.
After the Second World War, the colonial system began to collapse. In Seychelles, the first political movements began to emerge in 1964. The Seychelles People’s United Party campaigned for independence from Britain, but it lost elections to the Seychelles Democratic Party that wanted closer integration with the metropoly.
During the 1974 elections, however, both major parties campaigned for independence. Following the election and negotiations with Britain, Seychelles was granted independence and became an independent republic on June 29, 1974.
On Independence Day, the President of Seychelles addresses the nation in a celebratory speech. The holiday is celebrated with parades, flower and music shows, cultural events, parties, picnics, and firework displays.
For most Seychellois, Independence Day is a great occasion to spend time with their families and do some family bonding.
