Jabu’s Jungle says it continues broadcasting across Africa in its tenth year since becoming the most watched children's show on the continent.
The milestone is being celebrated with an extra five local languages for the South African market, and becomes the first animated show to ever be released in siSwati. This content is now being broadcast on SABC1, says the series.
Producing animation in Africa can be a challenge due to the high prices of production, but despite Jabu's Jungle origins in Masiphumelele township, outside Cape Town, the show has gone on to build a following across the African continent, adds the series.
Jabu and his 52 friends from the four seasons of the show aims to continue to mould children's developmental years with its Early Childhood Development themes, preparing kids for school, says the series.
The show is now supported by a merchandising drive, being run by the parents of viewers. Pinkie Kholong, who was an initial investor in the series, is now leading a team of entrepreneurial mom's who resell school bags and pencil cases. The alternative to Barbie and Ben10 has arrived on the continent for children aged four to nine, adds the series.
Jabu's Jungle's sister show, Zizi and Hannibal, was released recently on Jabu's Jungle's sister channel, SABC2, and is also available in four additional local languages. The Zizi and Hannibal show was the result of firm government support on providing African content for it's younger viewers — three government departments invested in the show to bring it to life, says the series.
The footprint to reach Africa's 300 million-plus children is now firmly set, and expansion across the territories has included partnerships with FMCG and family brands. Current viewership offers 23-million viewers on terrestrial television with the free-to-air offer growing, concludes the series.
For more information, visit www.jabusjungle.com. You can also follow Jabu's Jungle YouTube.
*Image courtesy of contributor