South Africa: Sesame Street's HIV-Positive Muppet Raises Awareness

KamiAs the children's show Sesame Street celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, premiering its new season today, one cute and cuddly Muppet on its South African edition continues to help combat and raise awareness about HIV/AIDS.

While Sesame Street is seen in over 140 countries, each version addresses local issues and has different Muppets. Golden-yellow Kami made her debut on the South African Sesame Street co-production, called Takalani Sesame, in 2002 in response to the country's HIV/AIDS problem. The world's first HIV-positive Muppet, she helps educate kids about the disease and confronts issues related to being HIV-positive. The name Kami is derived from the Setswana word “Kamogelo,” meaning “acceptance.” Sunshinestar110, blogging on U Don't Like My Opinion…That's Fine! talks more about Kami:

“Kami is a healthy HIV Positive, affectionate 5 year old orphan who is a little shy but quickly joins when approached in a friendly way, She also knows a lot about HIV, she lost her mother to the disease. When Kami was unveiled, with her mop of brown hair and she also wore a vest, wandering onto Sesame Street and wondering nervously if the residents will want to play with her. She didn't have to worry because the other Muppets enthusiastically welcomed her.”

Kami was introduced to help the many children in South Africa who are dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis. South Africa is believed to have the highest number of people infected with HIV in the world — an estimated 5.7 million people. Approximately 280,000 of those infected are children 14 and younger and there are 1.4 million orphans in the country due to AIDS. In addition to the physical complications of having HIV, there's also the stigma and taboo that comes with having the disease, which makes it harder for people to receive adequate treatment and support. Takalani Sesame, which incorporates all 11 of South Africa's official languages, tries to help children address some of these issues head on through Kami.

However, there was much controversy when Kami was introduced, particularly in the U.S., as many were outraged that a children's show would feature an HIV-positive character. Haven on Earth elaborates on the debate:

“Although it was reported that Kami's arrival on Sesame Street in South Africa was welcomed (I have a hard time accepting this as fact because of the still high level of denial still there), there was definite controversy here in United States. I remember reading about this (which is why I was so pleased to actually encounter a show airing while in South Africa – it would have never occurred to me to look for it). Apparently a group of Republican congressmen sent a letter to the President of PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) that airs Sesame Street. The letter protested that plans to introduce a similar HIV-positive character in the United States in due course were inappropriate, given the age of the audience. They suggested that such a move might threaten public funding of PBS [Public Broadcasting Service].”

Kami has never appeared on the American Sesame Street, though she has proven to be a very successful character on Takalani Sesame and beyond. In 2003, UNICEF appointed her as a global “Champion for Children.” In this video, she joins former U.S. president Bill Clinton to deliver a message about HIV/AIDS. Jamie, blogging on No day but today…, discusses Kami's other successes.

“Since most South African children know someone who has AIDS, the character has become a national hero, beloved by the country's people. Kami has appeared at the United Nations and the World Bank and was interviewed by Katie Couric. She has also been named a UNICEF ambassador for children and has appeared in Takalani segments alongside Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.”

Despite Kami's success, some bloggers still believe that she's not an appropriate character for the American version of Sesame Street. Emily Meyer, blogging for her honors class, says:

“Although it is important for Americans to know about HIV/AIDS and the seriousness of the diseases, I think teaching kids at the ages of two and three is a little extreme. Children this young would most likely not understand about HIV and would not understand its consequences. If Kami was to be introduced in the United States as a way to spread knowledge and combat AIDS, I do not think the intended results would occur…Kids in America are not forced to deal with the issue of HIV/AIDS at that young of an age. I think the appropriate time for kids in America to learn about the seriousness of HIV is when they are older, about ten or eleven years old or when the student becomes sexually active”

Still, many bloggers, such as this one writing on Muppets and History, see Kami has another example of how Sesame Street has pushed the boundaries. Others profess their love for the Muppet and the message she brings to children. And still others think she should be introduced on other versions of Sesame Street. On her personal blog, Steisha Pintado says:

“She shows children that it is okay to hug someone who is HIV positive, and she explains what to do when she has a cut on her finger or if you have a cut yours. She teachers her young audience about coping with illness and loss…Even though sex is never mentioned when talking about Kami’s condition, some people have said that having an HIV positive character would be inappropriate for a young viewing audience. One legislature even claimed that the Sesame Workshop would lose its government funding if it aired a program with such a character in our country. It is so shocking to hear these words. Parents spend less and less time with their children, and allow the television to educate them more and more. So obviously many parents aren’t teaching their children how to handle delicate subjects of awareness and acceptance. Parents have already allowed the Sesame Workshop to introduce acceptance with those who have disabilities and illnesses, and also with those who are a different race or religion. How is this any different?”

17 comments

  • Lauren Griffiths

    Oddly enough, I am an actual South African and- hold your breath- Kami is totally relevant in our society. Even though HIV disclosure is not a legal prerequisite when entering a school or workplace, we have an HIV infection rate of ridiculous proportions, especially at schools and universities. The aim is to make people realise that they won’t be infected through normal displays of affection among people, especially little children. (In my humble opinion, there is an abundance of literature and media encouraging our society to be HIV aware but very little information about practically dealing with an HIV infection, especially in a child.) Get real, naysayers- I would rather have my children learning that HIV, like diabetes, is a treatable condition that you won’t “catch” by hugging a friend- that lesson beats the crap out of an hours worth of Dr Phil any day!

  • […] change. . Sesame Street has done strides in regards to having a variety of characters who are different to help acclimate children to  the idea that people are different.  This has been Sesame Streets […]

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    Hello” thank God for the wonderful healing spell power which atakuma Oracle
    render to my life which oracle support, i was been diagnosed with
    HIV-AIDS over 7years now which has lead me to unemployment and loosing
    my relationship with my fiance after he heard that i am suffering from
    the VIRUS, i tried begging him to allow me stays with him, but he still
    insist on letting me out of his home, until a friend of mine on Facebook
    from SOUTH AFRICA told me more about atakuma Oracle the great healer, that he
    is going to help restore and healed my diseased with his powerful
    healing spell, she send me of atakuma Oracle email address and i quickly
    contacted him, and he replied to after 30mins of my message that my
    disease is a little and minor disease, that he will solved the disease
    immediately only if i can accept all he requested from, i told him yes,
    because truly i know that ” HIV-AIDS IS A WICKED AND DEADLY DISEASE I
    EVER KNOWS “. so i did all he want from me and surprisingly on Friday
    last week atakuma Oracle called me that my problems is solved that i should
    hurry up to the hospital for a checkup, which i truly really did, i
    confirm from my doctor that i am now NEGATIVE AND NOT LONG , I jump up
    and was crying heavily because truly the disease drive alot of things
    away from my life, my friends, my cousin, my finance and relatives, but
    now since i was confirm NEGATIVE- my lost friends and finance has been
    back to me begging for forgiveness, i have forgiven them and now we are
    now best of friend. again i will say to atakuma Oracle that he is blessed and
    may the almighty God which i serve raise him and his family to the
    higher level in life. Thank and god bless. Please email atakuma Oracle for
    healing and solution now at atakumaoracel@gmail.com or call him now on +2347064693371

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