One of the main island-state of the African continent, Seychelles lies north of the main island of Madagascar in Indian Ocean. To its east lies the African continent, or more specifically, Kenya on the mainland continent, and its nearby islands include Zanzibar, Mauritius, Reuion, Comoros and Mayotte.
An archipelago of 158 islands spread over an area of 455 sq km, Seychelles is also one of the smallest African nations, in terms of population, with only 81,000 people calling it home.
Out of the 158 islands, only 33 are inhabited, while the others are tropical islands, with some bascially, corals isles, and a few granite outcrops.
Seychelles, though, part of the African continent, it was initially populated by the seafarers Arabs, who in their quest for trade, ventured south of the mainland Arabian peninsula.
Being the main transit point between Asia and African, these islands was also home to the sea-pirates, who due to the increase trade between continents, took advantage, and harassed the oceangoers.
In the eighteenth century, the British took over and in 1903 it was separated from the island of Mauritius and was taken under the umbrella of the Crown colonies. But some 73 years later, the islands became an independent nation.
Being on the crossroads of trade between continents, the islands is inhabited by a mixture of races. It’s population has French, African, Indian and even Chinese roots. It’s main languages including both French and English.
