The Seychellois Creole Language, also known as Kreol or Seselwa, is a French-based creole language spoken on the islands of Seychelles. Despite the fact that Seychellois Creole shares the status of an official language with two more languages, English and French, it is considered to be the most widely spoken language in the Seychelles. Seychellois Creole is a French-based Creole and has much in common with Mauritian Creole. Nevertheless, it is worth to mention that in comparison to Mauritian and Reunion Creole, which lack official status in Mauritius and Reunion, Seychellois Creole stands out from other creoles.
It is interesting to know that about 95% of the Seychelles population speaks the Seychellois Creole language. Totally, there are about 70,000 people who speak this language in the Seychelles. Nevertheless, there are also a lot of writers and readers who can be found anywhere throughout the world. Totally, there are about 8 million people who use this language outside the Seychelles.
The Seychellois Creole language was formed due to the contact and communication between French colonizers and African people they enslaved. French colonizers came to the Seychelles Islands 12 years after they established a French protectorate on the Mauritius. In 1754 they established a territorial claim to the Seychelles. 15 white French settlers and their African slaves and servants arrived on Sainte Anne Island carrying nutmeg and clove seedlings, and 10,000 nutmeg seeds. This was the beginning of the Seychellois Creole language history.
In 1811, the Seychelles capitulated to British rule. This means that the creole was also influenced by the English language. Nevertheless, the French influence persisted and dominated in the Seychelles. Even today the indigenous culture is considered to be French-inspired and 70% of the population have French-sounding names.
In 1976 the Seychelles finally gained independence. Since that period, the government of the Seychelles has worked to promote Seychellois Creole. Today, the Seychellois Creole language has its own grammar, as well as its own script. Furthermore, in 1981, the Lenstiti Kreol was established. It standardizes the spelling and the grammar of Seychellois Creole. Despite the fact that English still remains as the official language of the government and business, Seychellois Creole is considered to be the most widely used language of conversations.
