Cassava Tuesdays: Creole Brand of The Republic of Seychelles

Capital: Victoria
Population: 94,677 (2016)
Official Language Spoken: Seychelles Creole (Seselwa), English and French
 Religion: Christianity, Islam, Bahai and Hinduism

President Danny Faure 

“Seychelles was part of the Paradise Papers, which revealed financial dealings of politicians, celebrities, corporate giants and business leaders.”

— November, 2017

COLONIAL PERIOD 

1502- Vasco Da Gama sailed from India to Africa at his arrival, he named the islands after himself, Les Amirantes (Admiral Islands). He is credited for discovering the island because none of the colored folks within distance ever dared to visit. I mean Seychelles is a hop and skip from two continents, but it took a European to “discover” this Island.

               ESTIMATED SHIP ARRIVALS TO SEYCHELLES

10 days from India
10 days from Saudi Arabia
4 days from Kenya
23 days from Portugal

I find it hard to believe that no one from these spaces “discovered” the island. In the late 1700s, the French colonized Seychelles and will name the island in honor of Viscount Jean Moreau de Sechelles (Minister of Finance, 1727 to 1743).

Portugal's Vasco da Gama explored the Seychelles (1502)

“Seychelles has the highest Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) per capita in Africa ($15,410 in 2016), but increasingly the effects of climate change are placing its economy—which relies heavily on high-end tourism and exports of tuna—at risk.”

— World Bank, 2017

As our other stories with "Empire" and Africa spaces go, there was a struggle from the French, British, Dutch, Arabs, and the Italians. They stopped by the island for precious stones, spices, and slaves. Similarly, to the early stories of Australia, Seychelles was used as a place to hold prisoners or exiles by the British.

Oddly enough, Seychelles keeps Somalian prisoners and it is all funded by the United Nations.

THE CASE OF NUTS AND NEUROTIC SAILORS

Coco De Mer, I am sure you can guess the Male and Female one right?

“World Bank approved a $9 million loan to help indebted Seychelles to restore economic stability.”

— 2009 (It was rough for everyone)

“Seychelles is ranked 93rd out of 190 economies on the Doing Business ”

— Word Bank, 2017

Seychellois Rupee

“
Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa ”

We discussed country branding last year, with the Sega Branding of Mauritius

What is the Creole Brand ? 

BLUE ECONOMICS & SUSTAINABILITY

BLUE ECONOMICS IN 2014

Seychelles relies heavily on tourism but the nation is on a mission to change that. The Island nation is trying to move away from being totally dependent on its tourism sector by developing its blue economy.

“ 40 out of 168 (No ranking available in 2016)”

— Transparency Corruption Perceptions Index, 2015

the outcome  IN 2016 (BRANDING ASSET #1)

Subscribe to us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CCTVcomInternational Follow us on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cctvcom Twitter: https://twitter.com/cctv Instagram: http://instagram.com/cctvenglish

SUSTAINABILITY IN POLICY AND IN PRACTICE (ASSET #2)

The country has also taking a proactive approach instead of a reactive approach to dealing with sustainability and the blue economy of the country. Read below to understand more on the Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap.

VISA RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REGION & power of passport? (BRANDING ASSET 3-4)

Country Branding done the right way “CAN” lead a country to the path of Soft Power. Remember, you can have a brand that is “sellable” but have no soft power. Despite the word SOFT, it is not easy to craft or apply into foreign policy. 

The Maldives has a recognizable brand, spectacular views that really are “The sunny side of life” but struggle with poverty and health care.

The Republic of Seychelles was first to scrap visa requirements for other African nations, despite the feelings not been mutual. In return, the country now has the most powerful African passport. The Seychelles passport ranks number 1 in the continent, 26 globally with a total of 141 accessible countries.

“Seychelles is home to one of the heaviest land tortoise, The Aldabra Giant tortoise born in 1846. ”

THE PEOPLE MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE BRAND? (problem#1)

Marie Josee Bonne, Special Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports, Seychelles

“Majority of the 115 islands are uninhabited, they are dedicated as nature reserves ”

The Seychelles has one of the most progressive social development policies in the developing world, arguably owing to its size and population of just over 860,000 people. The United Nations, however, believes the policies are workable, even in heavily populated countries. It says the model should be deployed in other African countries.

COUNTRY CARRIER AND TOURISM (ASSET #5) 

We have discussed the importance of a country having a reliable safe country carrier. Air Seychelle might be a small airline but enjoys six major code share partnership agreements with Alitalia, Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Air France, South African Airways, and Etihad Airways that owns 40% of the airline. Tourist can also enjoy authentic creole music on board. Your airline is supposed to celebrate and sell your country brand but with your culture constantly on the background.

The amazing Seychelles Islands...Not just another place,another World ! For a glimpse into this amazing island Nation ,please view the video. For more information about the Seychelles,please visit : www.seychelles.travel

CREOLE CULTURE
 

FOOD CULTURE

The traditional meal for the country is this delicious fruit bat. It can be served as a warm curry, stir fried or in coconut milk. 

SEGGAE MUSIC
 

This is a blend of reggae and sega, very popular with African Island countries. 

SEGGAE MUSIC

Kolonel from Seychelles Island Title : Parey Mon Devret Production : Dreamventure Special Thanks to : Darren Ladine : Hillary Rita

“The use of wood or charcoal is illegal in the island”

 

WE SHALL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS....

Promotional Seychelles Music Video geared in promoting Seychelles artist on an International level... Please feel free to subscribes, rate and view. Share it to your family and friends, Seychelles has been described as a Paradise on Earth, there's your chance to learn a little bit about it vast culture, through it's people's music.

See you next Cassava Tuesday!

Muldays Mondays: G.W.A.S.H, POOP & ENERGY

“G.W.A.S.H.-Global Water Sanitation and Hygiene”

— Water & Cassava

In September we touched on W.A.S.H and the Finances behind W.A.S.H are a bit complicated

G.W.A.S.H.- ASIA IN NUMBERS

BRIEF TOILET PAPER HISTORY

“The Chinese were using toilet paper as early as the 6th Century?”

— Water & Cassava tries to avoid HI-STORY and Eurocentricity

HERE ARE THE MANY WAYS SOME WIPED THEIR ARSES?
 

“Wealthy Romans -Wool, Rosewater

Public Restrooms in Ancient Rome- A sponge soaked in salt water, on the end of a stick

Middle Ages – Hayballs

Viking Age/England- Discarded sheep and lambs wool

Hawaiians – Coconut Shells

Eskimos – Snow and Tundra moss

India – Left hand and Water

Sailors from Spain/Portugal – Frayed end of an old anchor line

Medieval Europe- Straw, Hay, Grass

United States – Corn Cobs, Mussel Shell, Leaves”

— Toilet Paper World

This picture depicts LUXURY. I am not speaking of the décor and lightening. The luxury is the access to a flushing toilet. They can walk in this space with socks, house slippers or bare feet and they are still going to comfortably take a nice poop. The person that walks into this bathroom will not work on their toes, trying not to touch anything or not do the #1, #2 and #3 at the same time because of the odor. This is also the last part of this blog that might not make you want to puke, so I hope you are not eating?

“In Lao PDR, the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, combined with sanitation marketing tools, led to a 32% increase in sanitation access in 266 villages, eight times faster than the national rural average of 2.6% per year from 2014 to 2016. Through this support, 113 villages were declared open defecation free and almost 40,000 people gained access.”

— The World Bank

“In Ghana, to tackle the challenges of sanitation in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), the World Bank is supporting a multifaceted sanitation intervention. The project includes: subsidies for poor households to buy toilet facilities, construction of a new fecal sludge treatment plant, engagement with private sector financial institutions to encourage creation of loan products for household sanitation, sanitation marketing, mobile money platforms for households to save towards the cost of a toilet, support to local private contractors to build their capacity to deliver toilets at larger scales, and other related initiatives.”

— The World Bank

Ancient Rome Toilets. 

“In India, a US$1.5 billion World Bank loan is supporting the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission in its efforts to ensure that all citizens in rural areas have access to improved sanitation with the goal of ending the practice of open defecation in the country by 2019. The program incentivizes latrine and toilet construction through a focus on changing behaviors and stimulating deman”

— The World Bank

Human Feces for fertilizer, i kind of feel like my life is right here!

I imagine at this point you want to know just how it would work.......

Outhouse, I had to use this in Primary School. #thirdworldstruggles

THE HISTORY OF TOILET & POOPING

“This was brought to you by PBS. You must know, PBS is made possible for viewers like you....”

— Raised on PBS, BBC and SCI-FI

SANITATION

Adequate proper sanitation facilities and the ability to dispose waste appropriately is necessary for overall public health. The results of not having access to suitable sanitation facilities contribute to contaminated water and land that increase risks of various infections and diseases to people living in a community. The inadequate disposal of waste for a community means contaminated food, water to drink and wash.  

Access to proper sanitation improves health, socio-economic development and reduces life-threating WASH related diseases such as cholera, hepatitis and typhoid.
 

“I have had the unique pleasure of contracting cholera, typhoid at the same time. I did the 1-2-3 at the same time and looked like death. ”

— #Thirdworldstruggles

KENYA -FLYING TOILETS AND ECO-SOLUTIONS

Kibera, Kibera, Kibera. Watch this video on W.A.S.H and Pooping

Dealing with Kibera's flying toilets Al Jazeera's Hassan Ghani spends time with several of Kibera's residents examining the impact of the slum's waste crisis and explores the innovative solutions some locals have come up with to tackle the problem.

WHAT IS AN IKOTOILET? SOLUTIONS FROM KENYA

In Africa, 300 million people lack adequate sanitation, causing some of the biggest environmental and health problems facing people living in poor communities. In Kenya, DW eco-ambassador David Kuria's 'Ikotoilet' is helping change that. More eco@africa reports: http://www.dw.com/en/tv/eco-at-africa/s-32686

“In Egypt, the US$550 million Sustainable Rural Sanitation Services Program for Results is enhancing access to sanitation services for poor people in small towns while addressing the pollution of the Nile from untreated sewage. The Program aims at empowering local service delivery and connecting the rural and small town poor to working sanitation systems in the Delta governorates of Daqahliya, Sharqiya, and Beheira in Lower Egypt.”

— The World Bank

GHANA IS STRUGGLING

Unfortunately, there is problem with open defecation and it is costing the Ghanaian government $79 million annually.  This is also costing the country tourism dollars and will be extremely damaging to a Ghana working on Country Branding and Soft Power. This article goes in depth about the issue. 

“In Mozambique, at the request of the Maputo Municipal Council, inclusive sanitation options have been identified for households not connected to the limited sewerage system. This pilot has led to a request for World Bank financing for urban sanitation projects which will promote sustainable solutions to on-site sanitation. Projects which similarly address the challenges of on-site sanitation at scale are either under implementation or preparation in Ghana, Bangladesh, Benin, Tanzania, Indonesia and Ethiopia, among other countries.”

— The World Bank

TOILET BUSINESS IS BOOMING...

The Toilet Board Coalition brings together experts from business, investment, and the global sanitation community through our platform to cross-fertilise experiences, innovate at all levels, and catalyse the growth of profitable sanitation businesses that deliver sanitation to all. The Toilet Accelerator is a corporate accelerator program to facilitate private sector engagement and mentorship to sanitation businesses and entrepreneurs serving low-income markets.

The need of proper sanitation and hygiene has always been a major concern across the globe, especially in developing countries like India. Even today, 25% of the population in India still defecate in the open. With steady urbanization, heavily populated cities like Mumbai, face serious health menace due to lack of proper sanitation.

WHAT IS GREEN ABOUT POOPING?

“One man’s $%^& is another man’s water supply, fertilizer and energy source”

— Water & Cassava

CLEAN WATER & ELECTRICITY FROM POOP-BILL GATES

Bill Gates recently got to check out the Omniprocessor, an ingenious machine designed and built by Janicki Bioenergy, which turns human waste into water and electricity. In places without good waste treatment plants, it could be a real game-changer. Learn more at http://www.gatesnotes.com

NAKARU, KENYA-POOP AS CHARCOAL
 

A company is manufacturing charcoal from human poo and sawdust collected around Nakuru, Kenya. Locals have embraced its use and are using the briquettes for cooking and other purposes. The project aims to help protect the environment and improve sanitation especially in poor parts of the town.

SANIVATION -KENYA

Sanivation provides affordable sanitation services, collecting waste from their toilets an transforming it into a clean burning alternative to charcoal

SIDEBAR: PORTA POTTY

This contraption from America hell is called a Porta Potty. This hell is very popular during summer time in any major U.S city. Ahhh, yes nothing says, let us be in a festival mood as this evil box. Festival Newbies drink and eat all they see because “OMG, this is so good, you have to try it!”.  Then it is time to use the bathroom, I start reminding this individual just how delicious the food was, and I drink my water slowly. I also start to laugh, I mean the laughter that is loaded with “You are so screwed, and I tried to tell you but no, you wanted to eat and drink with your eyes”.  Oh, if you ever visit NYC in the summertime, DO NOT USE! Hold it and walk to the closest place of business because …. Well, I warned you, Cheers!

Until next Mulday!