Starring a yam monster, an HIV-positive puppet and talking drums, the Nigerian version of the famous US TV show Sesame Street is all set to hit TV screens this weekend.Although a lot of Nigerians either have no TV or lack the electricity to run it, there's a lot of excitement for the programme. It is expected to help educate children about such things as malaria prevention and encourage ethnic diversity and harmony.
There are no New York-style streets with tall blocks of flats punctuated with fire hydrants, but smaller houses with gardens surrounding a huge mango tree, lined with straw baskets.
This is Sesame Square, featuring Kami - a furry, golden, female muppet, and the energetic Zobi, a blue, male muppet, who drives a stationary yellow taxi.
The likeable Kami is five years old, and HIV-positive, in a role that is expected to help eliminate the stigma associated with the Aids virus.
Yemisi Ilo, the executive producer of the series, notes that having a character like Kami will "help educate children in a fun and lighthearted way".
"Our reality here in Nigeria is that there are hundreds of thousands of Aids orphans," she adds. "We want all children, including those with HIV, to be able to relate with the characters."
"It is by no means heavy… Kami doesn't come out saying she is HIV-positive. It's just who she is."
Sesame Street has been so iconic in the lives of people my age and younger (I was born two years before it hit the airwaves, so I was probably one of the first toddlers to watch it). I am fascinated by how it has grown and spread throughout the world to be adapted to other cultures. Even today I almost bought a Bert and Ernie shirt that said on the back 'You Complete Me'. Really. Almost.
The folks at Sesame Street have done a lot of good over the years. I hope they're able to stay on the air (or in whatever format comes along) for a long time, wherever they are.
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