(Seychelles News Agency) - An exhibition showcasing the country’s traditional weddings is on display at the National Cultural Centre at the National Library in the country’s capital, Victoria.

The display is organized by the Department of Culture and is aimed at preserving a part of the island nation's cultural heritage. The exhibit is open in conjunction with this weekend's Creole Festival activities. Mannequins dressed in traditional attire make up part of the display.

“These are the memories that my grandparents and their grandparents lived but which we are not really practising today,” Marietta Matombe, the coordinator of the exhibition, told SNA on Thursday.

Matombe said to set up the exhibition, a traditional wedding was re-enacted to get the necessary photographs and video. These will be part of a book that will be released soon.

In the old days, the bride and groom had to get the approval of both parents before getting married. This was followed by exchanged visits and then the wedding was set. (Salifa Magnan, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

In her address in the opening ceremony, the senior liaison officer in the department, Margaret Confait said, “The traditional Seychellois wedding, one of the most prestigious celebrations of our culture, has now lost some of its value. To be able to valorize this cultural heritage we need to preserve the ways of our ancestors.”

A member of the visiting delegation from Reunion, a French department in the Indian Ocean, Marie-Claude Boyer, found the exhibition interesting. “Back then, life was much simpler; there wasn’t any of today’s modernity that demands a lot of money. Traditional weddings were wonderful,” said Boyer.

The Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture, Alain St. Ange said though the traditional value is lost, the wedding celebration is still important. 

“It is important for all the young ladies and gentlemen who are looking to take things a step further and get married so as to start their home,” said St. Ange.

Guests at the opening savoured some of the delicacies normally served at a traditional wedding, like papaya jam, mango salad and passion fruit juice.

The exhibit is open in conjunction with this weekend's Creole Festival activities. (Salifa Magnan, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

In the old days, the bride and groom had to get the approval of both parents before getting married. This was followed by exchanged visits and then the wedding was set. Today many couples choose to live together before they decide to get married.

Matombe, the coordinator of the exhibition, said she believes that is one of the reasons why people today are not putting much importance in a traditional wedding.

A traditional wedding was re-enacted to get the necessary photographs and video for the exhibition. (Salifa Magnan, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY