A true South African icon
TAKALANI SESAME: SHOW’S TIMELESS APPEAL New season special one for the actors who bring the beloved Muppets to life.
As we celebrate the new season of Takalani Sesame airing on SABC 2, the series continues to make an impact – not just for fans but for the talent behind some of the most beloved characters.
With a curricular focus on “big emotions”, mirroring the intense feelings experienced by many children throughout the Covid pandemic, the season has been a special one for the actors who bring the beloved Muppets to life.
What’s your favourite Takalani Sesame memory? It’s not only young South Africans who are able to offer an answer to this question; many of their moms and dads have grown up with the show, singing along with the likes of Elmo, Zuzi, Kami, Moshe and Zikwe, every week day after school.
One of the reasons for the show’s timeless appeal is its ability to tap into the zeitgeist of the times. The newest season’s accent on “big emotions” is a case in point: in fact, Damon Berry, who brings Elmo to life, says that this has been a real highlight during his 22 years as part of the show.
“In our new season, Elmo gets a big feeling when he tries to play Zuzu’s Adventure game. It’s very powerful to see Elmo deal with real big feelings like being nervous,” Berry says.
While Berry says his Takalani Sesame journey started when he was cast as a character in the show’s first season, other puppeteers have fond memories of watching the characters themselves.
Take Nozizwe Zulu, the talent behind Kami, for example: “I was already in my youth when Takalani Sesame was released in the early 2000, but the show was so much fun that, even at my age, I never wanted to miss it.”
Zulu isn’t the only person on the team whose life was significantly impacted by the show.
Reshoketswe Maredi, who operates Zikwe’s arm, recalls having coffee with a new friend one day: “When he asked where I worked and I told him that I’m a Muppeteer, he got so excited that he started singing all the songs from Takalani. He told me that he’d grown up on it. I knew my chances of dating him were zero percent!”
Berry has had a similar experience: “We were once doing a location shoot in Maboneng. While I was standing there with my character, a businessman in a suit got out of his fancy car and started gesticulating out of the window. He wanted to share what a fan he is, and how the show has had a positive impact on him...how it had helped him.”
Tumi Maratele, the voice of Zuzu, once found herself seated on a place next to her character’s “greatest fan”.
“I was wearing a Zuzu T-shirt, and she asked where I got it from. When I told her I had received it on set, she told me that Zuzu was her favourite – and she couldn’t believe it when I told her that I puppeteer Zuzu. I had to show her pics of myself with Zuzu, do Zuzu’s giggle, make her voice and even sing a song.”
Nyanga Tshabalala, whose character is Zikwe, says that even if people don’t have their own stories about watching Takalani Sesame, they’re inevitably intrigued when they find out he’s a puppeteer.
“They always want to know how we do it. That tells me that we’re doing something right,” says Tshabalala.
While the puppeteers (or at least, their furry alter egos) have become household names, they all agree that one of the best parts of working on the show is getting to collaborate with South African superstars.
The show has a proud history of bringing the cream of local talent onto the set. Think of the time Zikwe taught artist Jimmy Dludlu to play guitar, or when Elmo jammed with artist Hugh Masekela, for example.
The current series is no different: this time, we’re graced with the presence of the likes of Sho Majozi, Prev Reddy, The Goliaths, Holly and Mimi Ray, Farieda Metsileng and David Kau.
For Lindani Nkosi, better known as Moshe, the inclusion of such celebrities is a highlight – but perhaps even more memorable are the collaborations with individuals, families and societies in need. “It’s wonderful that we’ve been able to include people with special needs, adults and children alike,” Nkosi says.
As the series celebrates its 13th season, which airs weekdays on SABC 2 at 3.30pm, it’s clear that one of the reasons for the show’s evergreen appeal, is its ability to keep pace with the times, maintaining relevance and a deep connection with each new generation of youngsters.
Who can forget the addition of Kami to the show, for example? As the first HIV-positive Muppet, this much-loved member of the crew had a critical part to play in educating South Africans about living with the virus.
Sharon Mekoa, the actor who operates Kami’s arm, believes this is one of the show’s strengths.
“We have so much fun on the show. I think that’s why both adults and children like to watch it: it’s enormously fun, but we’re all learning at the same time.”
Tshabalala points out that Takalani Sesame has also played a critical role in helping South African society to integrate, especially as it first appeared on screens at a time when South Africans were searching for a way to create cohesion.
“For the first time in the history of South Africa, children and parents alike were able to watch the same show in their mother tongue languages and receive the same information,” he says.
He’s equally proud that the show has gone on to win two international awards.
As a new generation of South Africans gets ready to sing along to Takalani Sesame’s theme song, one thing is for sure: the show will remain as much a part of local life as shisanyama and biltong for years to come.
After more than 21 years on TV screens, it’s no exaggeration to say that Takalani Sesame has become a household name.