Northeast of Madagascar lies Africa’s smallest country – Seychelles, a 115-island archipelago of granite rock, white sand, and thriving coastal forests. For centuries, Seychelles remained an untouched wilderness, a remote and mysterious paradise at the edge of the known world. Over time, this small, stunning nation evolved from an uncharted cluster of islands into a democratic republic renowned for its rich ecosystem and world-class luxury retreats. Here, giant Aldabra tortoises swim freely in crystal-clear waters, surrounded by forests laden with the exceedingly rare jellyfish trees and draping coco de mer palms, whose massive seeds are steeped in myth and legend.
Beneath the postcard-perfect exterior of Seychelles, though lies a history as fascinating as the waters that surround it: one of discovery and conquest, pirates and exiles, rebellion and reinvention.
Early Encounters and Colonial Rule (1502 – 1814)
Scattered across the remote Indian ocean, Seychelles is one of the few countries in the world that has no indigenous population. While some theories suggest that sea-faring Austronesians from Borneo likely set foot on the island around 200 AD, and Arab merchants likely passed through in the early Middle Ages, the islands have no record of permanent human habitation.
Then came the Age of Discovery.
Seychelles first appeared on European maps in 1502, when the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama spotted what is likely Silhouette Island. The first recorded landing however came more than a century later, when sailors from the British East India Company sought refuge on its shores after a storm. The sailors reported what they saw on their voyage – namely, giant tortoises, plentiful fresh water, and dazzling wildlife – but no European power claimed the islands. It wasn’t until 1756 that the French planted their flag and named the archipelago after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, a French finance minister.
The first permanent settlers – French colonists and enslaved Africans – arrived several years later, establishing sugarcane, spices, and cotton plantations. The enslaved population brought with them traditions, music, and languages that intertwined with European customs, forming the unique Creole identity that defines Seychelles today.
Throughout the same period, Seychelles had become an attractive hideout for pirates seeking a remote location to bury looted goods, most notably the infamous Olivier Levasseur, known as La Buse (‘the buzzard’). Legend has it that La Buse buried a fortune somewhere in the islands, and his cryptic coded message to its location remains unsolved to this day.
Everything changed in Seychelles in 1810 when the British seized control.
British Rule and Political Exile (1814 – 1976)
The fabric of Seychellois society changed fundamentally under British rule. Slavery was abolished, and plantation owners turned to indentured labourers from India, China, and other parts of Africa to keep up with labour-intensive farming. This blend of influences further shaped Seychellois Creole – the national language, a way of life, and a spirit of resilience.
But Seychelles wasn’t just a colonial outpost throughout the late twentieth century, it was also a prison for deposed rulers. Exiled kings and sultans found themselves trapped in paradise – most famously King Prempeh I of the Ashanti Empire, who was deposed by the British in 1896 after resisting colonial rule in present-day Ghana. Rather than executing him, the British exiled the king to Seychelles, along with his family and advisors, in an effort to suppress Ashanti resistance. Similarly, Sultan Abdullah of Perak, a key figure in Malaysian history, was sent to Seychelles in 1877 after being accused of orchestrating the assassination of British colonial official J.W.W. Birch. Like Prempeh, Abdullah was later permitted to return home, but not before spending years in a land where he held no power.
By the 20th century, Seychelles found itself in the crosshairs of global politics once again. During the Cold War, the United States eyed Aldabra Atoll – the pristine, native habitat of the famed giant tortoises – as a site for a military base. Scientists and conservationists fought back, led by none other than Sir David Attenborough, ultimately preventing its destruction. Today, Aldabra remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to one of the world’s largest populations of giant tortoises.
Independence, Upheaval, and the Rise of Luxury (1976 – Present)
On June 29, 1976, Seychelles gained independence from Britain and began to write its own history. The transition, however, wasn't exactly smooth: every leader before 2020 either fled, was deposed, or resigned, leading locals to whisper of the ‘Curse of State House’ – a pattern of political misfortune that loomed over the nation’s leadership. The nation’s first president, for instance, James Mancham, was overthrown in a coup led by France-Albert René, who would rule for nearly 30 years. His reign was marked by political suppression, but also modernisation.
Despite the turbulence, Seychelles flourished by carefully balancing development with environmental preservation. The country established vast marine reserves, fiercely protecting the waters that had once harboured explorers, pirates, exiles, and all in between. Today, the island nation is a globally-renowned destination that speaks to barefoot luxury, pristine conservation, and untamed beauty. It’s a living story that’s still unfolding.
