Seychellois Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Seychelles is a nation of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, famous for its beaches, coral reefs and giant tortoises. Its people speak Seychellois Creole, English and French, and have roots in Africa, Europe and Asia. Seychellois people in Britain include students, nurses and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 440 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Mauritian, Seychellois, Maldivian, Sao Tomean or St Helenian. The census counts several island communities together, so the Seychellois share of that figure is smaller.

Working for Birmingham

Seychellois residents study and work in fields such as healthcare, tourism, marine science and education. The Seychelles is a world leader in protecting its oceans, and Seychellois students often bring a strong interest in conservation and environmental science to their studies.

The city's future rests on the same things as its past: skills, enterprise and people willing to put in the hours. Whether in a hospital, a classroom, a lecture theatre, a van full of tools or a shop on a busy high street, Seychellois residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Creole music and the moutya dance, recognised by UNESCO, are central to Seychellois celebrations. Fish curries, grilled fish and dishes made with breadfruit and coconut are favourites, and the Festival Kreol each October celebrates Creole culture.

Like so many of the communities that make up modern Birmingham, the Seychellois community shows how a city can be home to many cultures at once. Its members are proud of where they come from, and just as proud to be Brummies.