History Series / TakalaniSesame

* HappilyAdopted: Kami lives with the street's resident mother figure and her husband, as well as their two human children (one of whom was also adopted).

Like [[Series/{{Sesamstraat}} other]] [[Series/{{Sesamstrasse}} international]] [[Series/PlazaSesamo versions]] of the show, ''Takalani'' also features dubbed scenes from the American version that only feature Muppet characters, in addition to its own original material. Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages in its curriculum,[[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]] and is aired in 5 of them, with the same episode in different languages on different weekdays[[labelnote:note]]English on Mondays, Zulu on Tuesdays, Southern Sotho on Wednesdays, Ndebele on Thursdays and Afrikaans on Fridays[[/labelnote]].

* TheAllegedCar: Zikwe "drives" a taxi that has no wheels.

* LoyalAnimalCompanion: Moshe has a pet worm called Kupukeji.

* HappilyAdopted: Kami lives with the street's resident mother figure and her husband, and in later seasons, their adult son.

* SeldomSeenSpecies: Moshe is a meerkat, and a rather large one at that.

Like [[Series/{{Sesamstraat}} other]] [[Series/{{Sesamstrasse}} international]] [[Series/PlazaSesamo versions]] of the show, ''Takalani'' features dubbed scenes from the American version that only feature Muppet characters. Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages in its curriculum,[[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]] and is aired in 5 of them, with the same episode in different languages on different weekdays[[labelnote:note]]English on Mondays, Zulu on Tuesdays, Southern Sotho on Wednesdays, Ndebele on Thursdays and Afrikaans on Fridays[[/labelnote]].

!!The Muppet characters created for this series inlude:

* TragicAIDSStory: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]]in connection to Kami. She's HIV-positive, and her mother died of the disease before the series, but she's otherwise perfectly healthy.

* TragicAIDSStory: {{Subverted}} and {{averted}} with Kami. She's HIV-positive, and her mother died of the disease before the series, but she's otherwise perfectly healthy.

''Takalani Sesame'' ("Takalani" means "Be Happy" in Venda) is the [[UsefulNotes/SouthAfrica South African]] version of the children's television program ''Series/SesameStreet'', co-produced by Creator/SesameWorkshop and South African partners.

According to Sesame Workshop, ''Takalani Sesame'' is a "uniquely South African interpretation of the Sesame model, engaging children and their parents and promoting basic school readiness, literacy, numeracy, and health and hygiene." The series also has a special focus on HIV/AIDS awareness and seeks to introduce HIV/AIDS safety while promoting tolerance and reducing stigma.

Like [[Series/{{Sesamstraat}} other]] [[Series/{{Sesamstrasse}} international]] [[Series/PlazaSesamo versions]] of the show, ''Takalani'' features dubbed scenes from the American version that only feature Muppet characters. Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]].

* AdaptationNameChange: Elmo was formerly named '''Neno''' on ''Takalani''. It was changed in preparation for the series' 20th anniversary, and to bring the name of the character in line with the US series and other international co-productions.

[[caption-width-right:350:The Muppet cast of ''Takalani Sesame''.[[labelnote:note]]Clockwise from top: Moshe, Zikwe, Neno, Kami, Zuzu[[/labelnote]]]]

* '''Neno''', who's essentially just Elmo given an AdaptationNameChange. See [[Characters/SesameStreetMonsters here]] for Elmo's character sheet.

* AdaptationNameChange: Elmo is renamed Neno for this series.

* FriendToAllChildren: All the Muppet characters count, but especially Neno.

* ShowWithinAShow: Some episodes feature truncated episodes of ''Series/ElmosWorld'', dubbed over by Neno's Muppet performer and some South African kids. Certain segments of ''Elmo's World'', such as those featuring the Noodle family, are typically edited out.

* TragicAIDSStory: {{Averted}} with Kami. She's HIV-positive, but otherwise perfectly healthy.

Like [[Series/{{Sesamstraat}} other]] [[Series/{{Sesamstrasse}} international]] [[Series/PlazaSesamo versions]] of the show, ''Takalani'' features dubbed scenes from the American version that only feature Muppet characters. Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]].

Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]].

Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages. [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]]

** In ''Sesame Square'', a fellow African co-production based in UsefulNotes/{{Nigeria}}, Kami and Zikwe are main characters, although the latter is renamed as Zobi.

* ShowWithinAShow: Some episodes feature truncated episodes of ''Series/ElmosWorld'', dubbed over by Neno's Muppeteer and some South African kids. Certain segments of ''Elmo's World'', circus dos featuring The Noodle family, are typically edited out.

* '''Neno''', who is best described as Elmo given a AdaptationNameChange. See [[Characters/SesameStreetMonsters here]] for Elmo's character sheet.

* '''Kami''', a cheerful, wise and energetic girl who just so happens to be HIV-positive. The creation of her character was intended to reduce stigma concerning the disease, in a country where an estimated 19% of South Africa's population aged 15–49 have HIV/AIDS. Kami's purpose, however, was [[CriticalResearchFailure widely misunderstood]] by American right-wing politicians and MoralGuardians, who believed that the character was intended for [[Series/SesameStreet the American version of the show]]. Despite this, Kami remains one of the show's most popular characters.

** In ''Sesame Square'', a fellow African co-production based in UsefulNotes/{{Nigeria}}, Kami and Zikwe are main characters, although the latter is renamed to Zobi.

* HappilyAdopted: Kami lives with the street's resident mother figure.

** In ''Series/SesameSquare'', a fellow African co-production based in UsefulNotes/{{Nigeria}}, Kami and Zikwe are main characters, although the latter is renamed to Zobi.

* '''Neno''', who is best described as Elmo given a DubNameChange. See [[Characters/SesameStreetMonsters here]] for Elmo's character sheet.

* '''Kami''', a cheerful, wise and energetic girl who just so happens to be HIV-positive. The creation of her character was intended to reduce stigma concerning the disease, in a country where an estimated 19% of South Africa's population aged 15–49 have HIV/AIDS. Kami's purpose, however, was [[CriticalResearchFailure widely misunderstood]] by American right-wing politicians and MoralGuardians, who believed that the character was intended for [[Series/SesameStreet the American version of the show]]. Despite this, Kami remains one of the show's most popular characters

Four out of the show's five main Muppets are completely original. Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages. [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]]

* '''Neno''', who is best described as Elmo given a DubNameChange. See Characters/SesameStreetMonsters for Elmo's character sheet.

Since some people in South Africa do not have access to televison, ''Takalani'' is also broadcast as a radio show. Both versions of the show incorporate all of South Africa's 11 national languages. [[labelnote:note]]Afrikaans, English, Zulu, Xhosa, Swazi, Ndebele, Sesotho, Northern Sotho, Tsonga, Tswana and Venda[[/labelnote]]

* '''Neno''', who is best described as Elmo given a DubNameChange.