Takalani Sesame nominated for Global Kidscreen Award

Takalani Sesame, South Africa’s longest-running children’s educational programme, has been nominated for Best Mixed-Media Series in the Preschool Programming category, in the 14th annual Kidscreen Awards.

The Kidscreen Awards is a high-profile celebration of children’s content excellence across the globe, paying tribute to outstanding TV and digital media work that keeps kids and families entertained. In its 14th year, the program received more than 550 entries from various countries. Sesame Workshop, the non-profit media and educational organisation behind Sesame Street, earned an amazing 12 nominations.

“Sesame Workshop is thrilled for our very own Takalani Sesame to be part of the 14th Annual Kidscreen Awards in the Preschool Programming category. It is gratifying that the ground-breaking South African program continues to be recognised as best-in-class in a number of areas, including the distinction of being the only South African kids program broadcast in English and four additional local languages (isiZulu, isiNdebele, seSotho, and Afrikaans),” says Innocent Nkata, Managing Director of Sesame Workshop South Africa. “This nomination is a wonderful acknowledgement of the difference that Takalani Sesame makes in helping millions of kids grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.

The complete list of Sesame Workshop’s 12 nominations:

Preschool Programming:

Best Mixed-Media Series – Takalani Sesame

Best Animated Series – Mecha Builders

Best Live-Action Series (2) – Helpsters; Sesame Street

Best Holiday or Special Episode – “Martin Luther King Jr. Day” (Sesame Street)

Best Podcast – The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley & Friends

Best Inclusivity – Sesame Street

Kids Programming:

Best Mixed-Media Series – Ahlan Simsim

Digital – Preschool

Best Web/App Series Branded (2) – #ComingTogether Word of the Day; Kids Meet

Best YouTube Channel – Sesame Workshop India

Digital – Kids

Best YouTube Channel – Plaza Sésamo

Nominees were selected by an esteemed panel of judges, including programming executives and respected kids’ producers who aren’t currently attached to a particular studio. The winners will be selected by a special jury of kids’ media executives in diversity-focused roles.

Entries will be assessed based on their balanced representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), LGBTQ+, and disabled characters in a positive and non-stereotypical way. Efforts made behind the scenes to ensure the production involved the diverse voices and communities portrayed on screen will also be taken into consideration.

This year’s winners will be announced live at a special awards ceremony at Kidscreen Summit 2023 in Miami on Tuesday, 14 February 2023.

Season 13 of Takalani Sesame helps kids deal with their ‘Big Feelings’ and airs on SABC 2 weekday at 15.30. The episodes are available in English on Mondays, isiZulu on Tuesdays, Sesotho on Wednesdays, isiNdebele on Thursdays, and Afrikaans on Fridays.

Takalani Sesame and Sesame Street are also exclusively available on Showmax in South Africa.