AGP Executive Report

Seychelles Arts & Culture: Russian Flag Day was marked at the Seychelles Tourism Academy, with about 100 students studying Russian taking part in a tricolour bracelet workshop and performing Russian songs, opened by Russian Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev. Contemporary Art Spotlight: Renowned Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde was named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards for his contribution to contemporary African art, with the presentation handled in Victoria after he couldn’t attend in Ghana. Music & Youth Culture: Young Seychellois singer Jahnilla Richina Sultan is building momentum in music while studying in Malaysia, aiming to grow her sound beyond the islands. Sports & Community: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, led by a 12-athlete team.

Arts & Culture Spotlight: Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde has been named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards, with the award presented in Victoria after he couldn’t attend in Ghana—his work often draws on Seychelles’ birds, plants and natural world. Education & Language Culture: Russian Flag Day celebrations in Seychelles at the Seychelles Tourism Academy brought about 100 Russian-language students together for tricolour bracelet-making workshops and Russian songs, opened by Russian Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev. Regional Arts & Film: The Madagascar Film Festival opened in Antananarivo (20 Aug) with screenings, masterclasses and workshops, ending in a gala awards ceremony on 23 Aug—plus a note that Seychelles youth recently joined an international film session in Moscow. Sports (Local Interest): Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship (8–9 Aug). Travel & Visual Inspiration: World Photography Day highlights Seychelles as a shoreline “art” destination, pointing readers to Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue for portraits and wedding-style shoots.

Russian Flag Day in Seychelles: The Russian Embassy and African Initiative marked Russian Flag Day at the Seychelles Tourism Academy with a tricolour bracelet workshop, Russian songs, and remarks from Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev to about 100 students studying Russian. Seychellois arts recognition: Contemporary artist Leon Radegonde was named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards, linking his work to Seychelles’ birds and flora and receiving the honour in Victoria after an earlier ceremony in Ghana. Sports & youth links: The SAFF championship schedule sets five rest days for the Nov 4–17 tournament in Dhaka, with Sri Lanka planning overseas matches against Seychelles and Mauritius ahead of the competition. Local culture spotlight: World Photography Day round-ups include Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue as a standout “shoreline becomes art” location for portraits and wedding shots. Arts beyond the islands: A Madagascar Film Festival opened in Antananarivo with screenings, masterclasses, and a gala awards finish on 23 August.

Russian Flag Day in Seychelles: The Russian Embassy and African Initiative marked Russian Flag Day at the Seychelles Tourism Academy, with about 100 students taking part in bracelet-making in tricolour colours and performing Russian songs, opened by Ambassador Kirill Sokolov-Shcherbachev. Contemporary art spotlight: Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde was named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards for his contribution to contemporary African art, with his work often drawing on Seychelles’ birds and flora. Film & training links: Madagascar Film Festival kicked off in Antananarivo (20–23 Aug), featuring short, documentary and animation screenings plus workshops on acting, screenwriting, and smartphone filmmaking—while Seychelles youth filmmakers were recently invited to an international session in Moscow. Music profile: Young Seychellois singer Jahnilla Richina Sultan shared her drive to make music “healing” as she builds her career from Seychelles to wider stages. Sports culture: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius’s Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship with 26 medals (14 gold). Local arts policy: India’s tourism and culture policy note (2026–27) highlights archaeology, museums, digitalisation and support for traditional practitioners.

Seychellois Arts Recognition: Renowned artist Leon Radegonde has been named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards for his contribution to contemporary African art, with the award presented in Victoria after he couldn’t attend in Ghana. His work often draws on Seychelles’ birds, plants and natural world. Local Culture & Policy: Seychelles’ tourism and culture policy note (via a regional coverage) highlights plans for archaeology, museums, digitalisation and support for traditional practitioners—an arts-and-heritage agenda that matters for local creative communities. Music Spotlight: Young Seychellois singer Jahnilla Richina Sultan is building her sound and confidence, balancing studies in accounting/finance with a growing music path aimed at taking her voice beyond the islands. Film & Training Link: Seychelles filmmakers were recently included in an international session, “Creativity That Unites,” in Moscow—keeping Seychelles connected to wider film training and exchange. Sports & Community: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals, including 14 gold, reinforcing the islands’ growing arts-adjacent community spirit through discipline and performance. Arts-Adjacent Travel: World Photography Day coverage spotlights Seychelles as a picture-perfect destination, with Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue highlighted for portraits and wedding shoots.

Seychelles Arts & Culture: Renowned Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde has been named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards for his contribution to contemporary African art, with the award presented in Victoria after he couldn’t attend the May ceremony in Kumasi; he linked his work to Seychelles’ natural world, from birds and plants to the human-nature bond. Music Spotlight: Jahnilla Sultan’s musical journey is in focus as the young Seychellois artist balances studies with a growing ambition to build a distinctive sound that can travel beyond the islands. Arts Policy & Heritage: A tourism and culture policy note for 2026–2027 highlights major plans for archaeology, museums, digitalisation and support for traditional practitioners, pointing to how cultural infrastructure can shape what audiences experience. Sports & Community: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, underscoring local talent feeding into regional competition. Photography Inspiration: World Photography Day round-ups put Seychelles front and centre, spotlighting Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue as a frame-worthy shoreline.

Art & Culture: Seychellois artist Leon Radegonde has been named a laureate of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards for his contribution to contemporary African art, with the award presented in Victoria after he couldn’t attend the main ceremony in Ghana. Local Arts Spotlight: Jahnilla Richina Sultan shares her musical journey, aiming to build a healing sound and grow her career beyond Seychelles. Tourism & Culture Policy: India’s 2026–2027 tourism and culture policy note highlights major moves in archaeology, thematic museum development, digitalisation, and support for traditional practitioners. Sports (Seychelles in the mix): Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. International Film & Culture Links: A Russian film screening (“The Sky”) took place in Nairobi, with organisers framing it as a step toward broader cultural co-operation. Seychelles-India Defence Support: India handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated tools to boost EEZ surveillance and SAR readiness.

Seychelles Culture & Tourism Policy: The 2026–2027 tourism, culture and special initiatives policy note spotlights archaeology and museums work, including major excavation programmes and digitalisation plans aimed at strengthening cultural access and support for traditional practitioners. Seychellois Music Spotlight: Young artist Jahnilla Richina Sultan shares her drive to make music “healing,” building a path from local studio work to a wider audience beyond the islands. Sports on the Radar: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals (14 gold, 10 silver, 2 bronze) at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with every fighter medalling. Film & Cultural Exchange: A Russian film screening of The Sky in Nairobi is framed as a bridge for Russian cinema audiences, with links to Seychelles’ own international film participation. Local Defence Cooperation: India handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated aircraft tools to boost in-house testing and readiness for EEZ surveillance and SAR operations. Global Arts-Travel Mood: World Photography Day round-ups include Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent as a portrait-ready shoreline, keeping the islands in the visual spotlight. Regional Governance: SADC leaders’ summit planning continues as Zambia prepares to host the next SADC Heads meeting, with tourism UNIVISA and regional development fund priorities on the agenda.

Seychelles Spotlight: India has handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated aircraft tools, plus safety gear, to boost EEZ surveillance and SAR operations. Sports & Culture: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals (14 gold, 10 silver, 2 bronze) at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Arts & Travel (Photo): World Photography Day round-ups put Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue in the frame as a shoreline “becomes art” backdrop for portraits and weddings. Regional Sports: SAFF’s 15th championship is set for Dhaka, Nov 4–17, with a schedule built around five rest days and Seychelles listed among the teams lined up for overseas exposure via planned matches. Global Media: A Russian film screening of The Sky drew local audiences in Nairobi, highlighting growing cross-border cinema links.

World Photography Day: A Seychelles-linked photo spotlight urges locals to treat travel shots as stories, with Anse Source d’Argent on La Digue highlighted for portraits and wedding moments. Seychelles Sport & Martial Arts: Mahé Martial Arts returned from Mauritius with 26 medals (14 gold, 10 silver, 2 bronze) at the Open Africa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, with every fighter medalling. Seychelles Film & Culture: A Russian film screening of The Sky in Nairobi points to growing regional film exchange, noting Seychellois participation in Moscow’s “Creativity That Unites.” Arts, Heritage & Conservation: A feature recalls British naturalist Ian Bullock as Aride Island’s first professional warden in 1987, linking his work to the survival of the endangered Seychelles warbler. Local Defence Support: India handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated tools to boost EEZ surveillance and SAR readiness. Regional Spotlight: SADC’s next summit heads to Zambia after Durban, with tourism UNIVISA and a regional development fund among the agenda items.

Seychelles–India Defence Boost: India has handed Seychelles repaired Dornier main electronic units and calibrated aircraft tools, plus safety gear, to strengthen EEZ surveillance and SAR operations. Seychelles Arts & Culture (Film): A note from the region highlights Seychellois filmmakers taking part in Moscow’s 2026 “Creativity That Unites” film session tied to the “Diamond Butterfly” awards. Seychelles Travel & Lifestyle: Seychelles continues to be positioned as an elite luxury and ecotourism stop, with Russian demand for Mahe reported as steady and growing in 2026. Regional Sports & Youth Links: Eswatini’s National Youth Games are being used to prepare for Region V, with a Seychelles Olympic delegation present—another sign of growing Seychelles participation across Southern Africa’s sporting calendar. Media & Public Accountability (Ghana): Ghana’s Chief of Staff Julius Debrah publicly backs journalists as governance partners, a reminder of how arts and media ecosystems thrive on open scrutiny.

Seychelles in the spotlight: India has handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated aircraft tools, plus safety gear, to boost EEZ surveillance and SAR operations. Regional diplomacy: Zambia will host the 47th SADC Summit after Durban’s 46th Ordinary Summit, with leaders backing a tourism UNIVISA and a regional development fund alongside peace and health priorities. Arts & culture (local): Young Seychellois musician Paolo Payet is profiled for championing Seychelles’ musical heritage, turning tourism training into a full-time music career. Sports & youth links: Seychelles’ Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association delegation is set to take part in Eswatini’s National Youth Games, helping shape teams for Region V. Arts & community spaces: The National Library’s holiday programme is bringing kids and teens together to learn, create, and explore. Tech & connectivity: Airtel Africa and Starlink launch direct-to-phone satellite service in DR Congo, extending coverage without dishes—an innovation story with clear regional relevance. Finance (Seychelles-linked): Absa reports stronger earnings, with Seychelles included in its Africa Regions footprint. Nature science (Seychelles link): Research on male sperm whale “slow clicks” includes recordings off the Seychelles, adding to what we know about whale communication. Travel buzz: A new global “best beaches” list puts Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent at No.1, keeping the islands firmly in international leisure conversations.

Seychelles Defence Boost: India has handed Seychelles repaired Dornier main electronic units, calibrated aircraft tools, safety helmets and seamanship ropes to strengthen EEZ surveillance and SAR operations, with the items repaired and calibrated at Indian Naval establishments. Maritime Skills Upgrade: India also delivered five laser radial-class boats to the Seychelles Defence Forces, aimed at building seamanship skills and deepening the India–Seychelles defence and maritime partnership. Local Arts & Community: The National Library’s August holiday programme (Aug 10–28) is back with arts and crafts, storytelling, educational games, tech activities and team-building for kids and teens. Football Development: A five-day FIFA Member Association referees course has started in Seychelles at Maison Football, with international fitness and referee development support to raise local match-official standards. Music Spotlight: Young Seychellois artist Paolo Payet is highlighted for championing Seychelles’ musical heritage through local gigs and collaborations. Global Beach Buzz: Anse Source d’Argent in Seychelles is ranked No.1 in a 2026 “best beaches” list, keeping the islands firmly in the travel spotlight.

India–Seychelles Defence Boost: India has handed Seychelles repaired Dornier electronic units and calibrated aircraft tools, plus safety gear, to strengthen EEZ surveillance and SAR readiness. SADC Summit Spotlight: SADC leaders meet in Durban as the bloc pushes industrialisation, resilience and deeper integration—while warning progress is held back by weak implementation and youth unemployment. Local Sports & Community: Seychelles’ National Library launches an August holiday programme mixing arts, storytelling, tech and games, and a FIFA Member Association referees course begins in Roche Caïman to raise match-official standards. Seychelles Music: Young musician Paolo Payet is highlighted for championing Seychelles’ musical heritage while building a full-time career. Arts & Travel Buzz: Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent tops a global “best beaches” list again, keeping the islands firmly in the spotlight.

Seychelles in the spotlight: India has handed over five laser radial-class boats to the Seychelles Defence Forces, strengthening the island nation’s maritime partnership and seamanship training. Local arts & culture: Seychelles musician Paolo Payet is spotlighted for championing the country’s musical heritage, turning early passion into a growing career. Sports development: A FIFA Member Association referees course is under way in Seychelles, bringing international coaching to help local match officials sharpen fitness and standards. Youth & learning: The National Library’s August holiday programme runs Aug 10–28 with arts, storytelling, tech activities, games and creative workshops for kids and teens. Global Seychelles link: Russian cosmonauts sent a goodwill message to mark Seychelles’ 50th independence anniversary, tied to space-flown national emblems. Travel buzz: Anse Source d’Argent tops Big 7 Travel’s 2026 “best beaches” list, keeping Seychelles firmly on the global leisure map.

Seychelles Heritage in the Spotlight: A new profile spotlights 23-year-old musician Paolo Payet, tracing how he turned local passion into a growing career after studying at the Seychelles Tourism Academy and working at Creole Travel Services. Sports & Community Learning: The National Library’s August holiday programme (Aug 10–28) is set to mix arts and crafts, storytelling, games, tech activities, and educational visits for kids and teens. Football Development: Seychelles match officials begin a five-day FIFA Member Association Referees Course at Maison Football, Roche Caïman, aimed at raising standards with international fitness and training support. Regional Cultural Exchange: The Seychelles National Choir helped headline Beijing’s “Super Weekend, World Harmony” canal-borne choral gala, performing for a reported 74,000+ live audience. Conservation History: A look back at 1987 Aride Island’s first professional warden, British naturalist Ian Bullock, and how his work supported the survival of the endangered Seychelles warbler. Tourism Buzz (Global, Seychelles-linked): Seychelles’ Anse Source d’Argent is named the world’s top beach for 2026 in a Big 7 Travel ranking, reinforcing the islands’ ongoing pull for arts, travel, and culture-minded audiences.