L’Ecole Francaise des Seychelles Celebrates Creole Identity with Annual Festival Kreol
VICTORIA, Seychelles — L’Ecole Francaise des Seychelles (EFS) on Wednesday held its annual Creole festival, with all the children and teachers dressed in their finest floral outfits to mark Festival Kreol. The programme included readings of stories in Creole and French in the multi-purpose hall, traditional games in the gymnasium such as the musical chair, sack race, rope skipping and dominoes, artistic productions under the supervision of the teacher, a music stand at the canteen, and dances under the direction of the secondary school students who led their younger counterparts.
Madam Christine Guitton, principal of the EFS, expressed her satisfaction with the Festival Kreol celebrations and the integration of Creole culture into the school. ‘The EFS organises its Creole festival at the end of each period, notably at the end of that of October. The objective of this event has taken the form of a kermesse type festival with different workshops. The important aspect of this festival is the intergenerational one; the workshops are led by secondary school students who take care of primary school students, including those from the maternelle. It’s a crucial moment because the school is small and has a family character,’ she said.
Madam Guitton added that the school has introduced dedicated courses on Creole culture and language, which have been offered for the past three years. The EFS integrates Creole values into daily life and gives the children the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the local culture, all while continuing to strengthen their performance in French, which is the school’s main language of instruction. The school said it remains committed to nurturing Seychellois identity and pride in local culture as part of its educational mission.
