Kilimani Sesame is the Tanzanian version of Sesame Street. The show airs on Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) and Television Zanzibar (TVZ).[1] The production was launched in April 2008.[2][3][4] The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored the production.[3]
| Kilimani Sesame | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's television |
| Country of origin | Tanzania |
| Original language | Swahili |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | April 2008 |
Production
editThe show features adapted material from South Africa's co-production, Takalani Sesame, dubbed in Kiswahili. Live action segments are created by local producers, with help from Maweni Farm, a film production and consultant company.
Messaging
editMalaria prevention and HIV/AIDS education are two of the program's key educational components.[3][5][6] Other topics include literacy and math.[1]
The program is part of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership's Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP). Other organizations that the show has partnered with are The Jane Goodall Institute Tanzania/Roots and Shoots Program, Pact Tanzania, and Children and Youth Development Initiative.
Characters
editMuppet characters include Kami and Lulu, who originated in South Africa's Takalani Sesame, and Neno, the production's version of Elmo (also a main character in Takalani Sesame). In Takalani Sesame, Elmo was also called Neno (up until 2020) and Lulu is called Zuzu. [1][3][7] Kami is an HIV-positive five-year old, who is enthusiastic and enjoys learning.[7]
Content
editThirteen half-hour television episodes, thirteen fifteen-minute radio episodes, and three storybooks have been produced.[2][4] The radio episodes contain songs based around the issue of the episode.[3]
The program is dubbed in both Kiswahili and English.[7]
In 2011 Kilimani Sesame was part of a malaria education campaign in collaboration with the Tanzanian government.[8] The campaign included public service announcements for TV and radio and educational storybooks.[8]
Impact
editA 2010 study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found the program had multiple positive impacts on children who were exposed to it, including improved cognitive development, social behavior, hygiene, and literacy and math skills.[9][2][4]
In other media
editA song from the series, "Don't be sad", was included on Putumayo World Music's album Sesame Street Playground.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Welcoming Back Kilimani Sesame!". Ubongo. 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ a b c "Kilimani Sesame Has Positive Impact on Children in Tanzania". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ a b c d e Brandt, Cory (21 March 2011). "Kilimani Sesame". The Communication Initiative Network. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ a b c Matey, Patricia (30 August 2010). "Barrio Sésamo enseña en África". El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ Petrova, Jenny Perlman Robinson and Daniela (2015-03-18). "Getting millions to learn: The impact of Sesame Street around the world". Brookings. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ Kaiser, Tina (2015-04-09). "Sesamstraße: Gesellschaft Sesame Workshop spaltet sich auf". DIE WELT (in German). Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ a b c "The Role of Social Media in Early Childhood Education – The Sesame Workshop". Unite For Sight. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ a b "Sesame Street in Tanzania sponsors malaria outreach campaign". Current. 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
- ^ Borzekowski, Dina L. G.; Macha, Jacob E. (2010-07-01). "The role of Kilimani Sesame in the healthy development of Tanzanian preschool children". Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. 31 (4): 298–305. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2010.05.002. ISSN 0193-3973.
- ^ McSmith, Andy (4 December 2008). "The Big Bird migration - ExtraHit & Run...". The Independent. pp. 6–7.