Sweeping the clouds away in Africa: Sesame Street is heading to the nation of Nigeria, Variety reports.
Sesame Workshop, who produce the PBS television classic, is developing a Nigerian version of the 40-year-old children’s program in hopes of bringing life-changing messages about education, women’s rights, and HIV/AIDS to some of Africa’a youngest citizens.Bid Bird and Kami — the HIV-positive Muppet from the South African version of the series, Takalani Sesame — will appear in the Nigerian edition. Tenatively-titled Sesame Street Nigeria, the new incarnation will consists of at least 78 half-hour episodes when it premieres next year.
“Introducing Kami and Big Bird to children in Nigeria lies at the core of Sesame Workshop’s mission to foster respect and understanding through the power of media and beloved characters,” said Sesame Street Nigeria producer Naila Farouky. “It is our hope that the series will make a strong impact among Nigerian children and their families.”
The Nigerian program joins a host of international adaptations of Sesame Street - including Germany’s Sesamestrasse and Plaza Sesamo in Mexico. In fact, localized versions of the show air in 140 countries, including Bangladesh, India, Northern Ireland, and the Palestinian territories.
