Regina Melanie

Regina Melanie (August 29, 1932 – March 1, 2016) was a Seychellois writer and poet. She was heavily involved in efforts to document and promote Seychellois Creole.

Biography Regina Melanie was born in 1932 in the Baie Lazare district of Seychelles. Her education was cut short while she was still in primary school. Melanie worked as a manual laborer and cleaner. In the early 1980s, she became one of the first participants in the "Progranm alfabetizasyon" literacy program. Through the program, she was able to learn to write in English, French, and Seychellois Creole. She became a well-known writer on the island, considered a pioneer in Seychellois Creole literature. In addition, Melanie was involved in the Komite Lalang Kreol, which works to preserve and promote Seychellois Creole, and served as its dean until her death. In 2019, she was featured in Seychellois Writers: A Biographical Sketch, an overview of the island's literary figures by Diallo Addourahamane.