The Seychelles Ministry of Tourism and Culture has confirmed that from today (Wednesday) they are joining Africa to mark the 2013 Africa Day Celebrations through their very own FetAfrik.

The island’s FetAfrik Committee have come out with a fully-fledged, four-day program starting with a lecture at UNISEY Campus at 1000 hours at Anse Royale on Wednesday, May 22, on Pan Africanism&African Renaissance. This will be followed by a lecture to the Seychelles Tourism Academy Students at 1300 hours by visiting Chef Kabelo Segone of South Africa and a Cultural Talk at 1630 hours at the National Cultural Center on “Soungoula,” this commonly-used word retraces its origin back to mainland Africa.

On Thursday, May 23, an exhibition by visiting South African Artist Bamba Siblya will take place at 1100 hours at Kenywn House in Victoria. This will be followed at 1700 hours by the official launching ceremony of FetAfrik 2013 at the National Cultural Center in Victoria and an African Bazaar where the National Cultural Troupe, Achille Kwame Luc, and the visiting Maasai Performance - Bomas of Kenya - will be entertaining the crowds. An interesting visiting exhibition from the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture in Mauritius will also be opened at the same time at the national Cultural Centre itself.

On Friday, May 24, at 1000 hours, the Seychelles Association of Visual Arts are staging an Afrikart Painting Exhibition at Caravelle House at the same time as the African Bazaar will re-open for the day at the National Cultural Center. At 1200 noon the Maasai Performance - Bomas of Kenya will be performing in the open air outside the Kenya Airways Office at Kingsgate House in Victoria and at 1300 hours at the Children’s Library, Steven Rose will be conducting a Story Telling – African Folktales session. On that same evening from 1900 hours, an African Gala Evening will be held at Le meridian Barbarons Hotel at Barbarons Mahe.

On Saturday, May 25, at 0930 hours at the National Cultural Center an OAU-AU Exhibition will be opened marking the 50th anniversary of the organization. This will be followed by the last day of the African Bazaar where sale of crafts, food, books, music, CDs, etc., will be taking place before the curtain closes on the 2013 Africa Day celebrations.

The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Mr. Alain St.Ange has said that this year the Ministry with the support of those who believe in their African tradition and have come forward to mark the event with renewed vigor. “The FetAfrik Committee has worked tirelessly to stage an event that will mark this important date on our calendar of events. This year, we have also been assisted to bring more of mainland Africa to Seychelles, and this new approach, we hope, will be further developed in the coming years as we continue to mark our Africa Day in Seychelles,” Minister St.Ange said.