(Seychelles News Agency) - The capital city of Seychelles, Victoria, became the centre of attention during New Year’s celebrations as hundreds of people converged to say goodbye to 2017 and welcome 2018 with the upbeat company of local artists and bands.

Elijah, Ion Kid, Philip Toussaint, Michelle Marengo and Francois Larue were some of the top local artists entertaining the crowd during the New Year’s Eve street party, held in the car park of the Stad Popiler.

The event, which started at 6 p.m. on Sunday and ended in the early hours on Monday, was organised by local company Casamba Production.

The company’s director, Basil Bouchereau, told SNA that “it was a great time for those present to put aside all of their worries.”

The street party was the top free entertainment spot in Seychelles. “We had Moutya with the Fek Arive group, and Saturn and Laflanm band also entertained the crowd,” said Bouchereau.

Many local artists performed for the crowd gathered in Victoria to welcome the New Year. (Jude Morel, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

He hopes that in 2018, more people will come together to help entertain the country as he feels there is a lack of entertainment in the 115-island archipelago of the western Indian Ocean.

Welcoming the New Year in the company of family members and friends still remains a common practice for many Seychellois. They gathered for dinner and then danced the night away until the final countdown, where they loudly send off the year.

As another year began, it is a widespread practice to evaluate the old one and set new targets for the new one.

SNA spoke to a few Seychellois on what they have achieved and their resolution for the one-day-old 2018.

Head of the English Department of the Anse Royale Secondary school, Nathasha Adeline, said the year has been particularly challenging. She found that “through patience, faith and strong will, anything can be done and overcome.”

“I was promoted to be the head of my department and gained new insight on how to better work with people especially in difficult situations,” said Adeline, adding that she is now in a better position to manage stress and multitask.

On her outlook for 2018, Adeline said that she wants to “progress further on the  professional level, at the same time broadening my knowledge in my field and maybe start a family of my own.”

2017 was a productive year for a young aspiring videographer, Kenny Morel, who also told SNA that the year presented him with new opportunities.

“Being a member of the Orizinal Kreol production crew, I have contributed to the making of several local series such as ‘Menas’, ‘Pa zwe bliye’, ‘Dan biro’,” said Morel.

He had the chance to work with local actors such as Colvin Beaudouin and Richie Flore. For 2018 his wish is to work on more videos and films, tapping into the big budget ones.

“For the New Year, I also want to take better care of my health and maybe get a new puppy,” he added.

Focusing on a healthier lifestyle is a popular resolution for many and this is the exact goal set by the owner of Surfers Cove, a self-catering apartment situated in the northern district of Bel Ombre.

“My resolution for the new year is to be healthier - to do more physical activities, especially exercises and eat more healthily,” said Barbara Fock-Tave.

The entrepreneur said that 2017 was a challenging year as she “switched from nursing, my profession from the last twenty years, to the hospitality sector.”

“It has also been an accomplishment because the family guest house is up and operational for six months now and we have had lots of encouragement and positive feedback,” said Fock-Tave.

Richard Larue, who is a bodyguard by profession, said that he managed to make savings during the past year. “I have managed to reduce the number of times I went to nightclubs and amount of alcohol consumed. As a result, I saved more money that can be used for other goals,” said Larue.

The 22-year-old hopes to spend more time with his family during 2018, stay safe, become healthier and treat himself to a new car.