Google’s logo informs me that Sesame Street turns forty this month.

I didn’t watch much of Sesame Street – when I was a toddler, there were a great many programs aired in my home language and I didn’t have the need for more. I do remember Friday afternoon movies of The Muppets when I was a bit older, and those were awesome.

As transformation in South Africa progressed, however, TV programs in all eleven South African languages were being aired. This obviously allows little children to be more exposed to and comfortable with the languages of their fellow citizens.

One of these programs, with its debut in 2000, was Takalani Sesame. Said programme is a localised version of Sesame Street. As with the American version, the program has a huge educational undertone. However, it has been adapted to be more culturally relevant to the young South African audience.

[Takalani Sesame logo]

A great many of the same characters are used, but they have South African names and speak South African languages in South African accents.

Takalani Sesame’s educational sphere includes, like the original, educational ideals regarding Health and Wellness, Respect and Understanding, Literacy and Numeracy as well as Emotional Wellbeing.

Above and beyond this, the programme plays a major role in racial integration and AIDS education in South Africa. Characters of different races interact on a South African streets, while two characters who are best friends, have a Black South African accent and a White South African accent, respectively.

A muppet on the show is asymptomatically HIV-positive. Through her vibrant personality and friendly advice, the producers strive towards teaching respect and awareness in children from a young age.

[Kami, the HIV-positive muppet of Takalani Sesame]

At the risk of boring my regular readers to death, I don’t think it is necessary for me to explain why I love Sesame Workshop, UNAIDS and SANLAM (a South African company) for their input with the localization of Takalani Sesame.

Their focus on AIDS prevention as well as education are both factors that I have ranted about consistently for their importance in controlling, solving and preventing poverty.

So, to Sesame Street:

“Halala ngosuku lokuzalwa; Ngiyabonga; Ngikufisela inhlanhla!” [Zulu]

“Veels geluk met jou verjaarsdag; Dankie; Sterkte!” [Afrikaans]

“Imini emnandi kuwe; Enkosi; Amathamsanqa!” [Xhosa]

That is... Happy Birthday; Thank you; Good luck!