South Africa, it’s time to celebrate! Takalani Sesame’s Big Feelings Special has won a 2024 International Emmy® in the Kids: Factual category.
The 2024 International Emmy® Award Winners were announced at the 52nd International Emmy® Awards Gala in New York City, on Monday, November 25, 2024, which was broadcast in over 150 countries. Takalani Sesame’s Big Feelings Special and reality show Die Brug on kykNET were South Africa’s two 2024 International Emmy® hopefuls this year.
“We’re absolutely thrilled! Thank you, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, for this honour,” says Mari Payne, Deputy Managing Director and Senior Director Education and Outreach, Sesame Workshop International South Africa (SWISA). “It is hugely fulfilling to receive this prestigious award and to be internationally recognised for the childhood educational programmes that we produce with the objective of educating and entertaining children.”
Payne says that receiving a 2024 International Emmy® is true recognition of the work their team does, in their quest to help children grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. “We were privileged to have received a nomination, but to win is overwhelmingly special,” she adds.
This is Takalani Sesame’s second Emmy® nomination in the same number of years, as the brand was nominated in the Kids: Factual category in the 2023 International Emmy® Awards.
Payne attributes the win to the team’s focus on working tirelessly together to create an incredible whole-family, co-viewing experience. “Huge thanks go to our local South African team and our New York ISI Team. Takalani Sesame’s Big Feelings Special is a labour of love, focused on teaching our strategic goal of Emotional Wellbeing to children and parents and folks of all ages across South Africa,” says Payne.
The International Emmy® win follows Takalani Sesame’s Big Feelings Special winning Gold at the Anthem Awards just last week. The special received the award in the category Health: Film, Video, Television or Show Awareness. The Anthem Awards honour the purpose & mission-driven work of people, companies and organisations worldwide.
The Takalani Sesame Big Feelings Special follows Reporter Elmo, Reporter Zuzu, and Reporter Zikwe as they embark on a mission to find out how South Africans of all ages experience and cope with Big Feelings. Along the way, the furry Takalani friends meet up with notable South Africans (Comedian/Actor David Kau & South Africa’s Women’s National Soccer Team Banyana Banyana) and everyday South Africans to learn strategies to cope and thrive while experiencing Big Feelings!
