An Indian Ocean archipelago comprising more than 100 islands off the eastern coast of Africa, the Seychelles are known for their exceptional beaches and scuba diving. The islands are culturally diverse and served as a hideout for pirates as early as the 17th century. Annexed and settled by France from 1770, they later came under British colonial control and emerged as a center of coconut and spice agriculture. Port towns featured a mixture of Europeans, native islanders, and Chinese and Tamil traders. Today they are popular tourist destinations for their well-preserved mix of colonial architectures.
The cultural traditions that dominate the Seychelle today center on West African roots related to the slavery era, and include moutia and sega music. Similar to calypso, sega dancing features syncopated hand and hip movements, as well as a basic rule that the feet can never leave the ground.