Sesame Square

Kami and Zikwe

Sesame Square is the Sesame Street co-production for Nigeria. It is an extension of The Adventures of Kami and Big Bird initiative launched in early 2009.

The United States Agency for International Development has provided a five-year grant to produce seventy-eight 30-minute episodes for the series. The grant also allows for outreach materials and research initiatives.

The series' intention is to bring messages to Nigerian children about staying in school, girls' empowerment and HIV/AIDS.

Each half-hour episode features original content with local talent as Kami and Zikwe. The show will also features inserts from Sesame Street dubbed into Nigerian English accents. The series also includes elements from Global Grover, Play with Me Sesame, Elmo's World, Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures and Sesame Street English.

Yemisi Ilo is the executive producer, based out of Lagos.

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Characters

• Zobi: A taxi-driver who speaks with a Nigerian lilt. He has an obsession with yams.

Sources

• WorldScreen.com "Sesame Street Heads to Nigeria" by Kristin Brzoznowski, December 2, 2009
• Variety Sesame Street goes to Nigeria by Bobbie Whiteman, December 7, 2009

External links

• USAID: Sesame Square Nigeria