[Photo Credit: SesameWorkshop.org]
Everyone’s beloved “Sesame Street” Muppets are expanding their universe and this time, it’s for an apparently wonderful cause. The Afghani version of the show is all set to introduce a new character, six-year-old Zari. The goal is that she will inspire and become a role model for children and women in a country like Afghanistan where women’s right issues do not seem to cease and the record for promoting women’s right is poor. Since the fall of the Taliban government in 2002, several unfruitful attempts have been made to improve the situation.
According to the production company Sesame Workshop, Zari will appear only in the Afghan version of the show, called “Baghch-e-SimSim,” which translates to Sesame Garden, although we wouldn’t mind watching her crossover sometimes too!
Dressed in a blue coat over red and yellow salwar-kameez, her beautiful multi-colored hair is tied in a braid. Even beyond her colorful clothes, which clearly represent the personality of this character, the most captivating aspect of her look is her huge smile, which seems to give a much more youthful, modern yet traditional, and iconic glimpse into what life should be like for children in this country.
To add to that, the production company has also stated that Zari will focus on important issues like girls empowerment, health, and emotional well-being. Afganistan has imposed strict limits on women’s lifestyles and rights. She will also appear as speaking directly to viewers, interacting with children in person and interviewing a variety of Afghan professionals. Through simple yet meaningful acts, such as explaining to her friends, aka the viewers, the meaning of the greeting ‘Asalaam Alaikum,’ she will be able to proudly show and teach her culture.
Through Zari, who will appear in each of the 26 episodes, children who watch the show will be able to identify with and learn from a strong female character. Afghan puppeteer Mansoor Shirzad will bring life to the Muppet for the show.
Philip Toscano, director of communications at Sesame Workshop, believes that based on a great deal of research, this character will resonate most with viewers. “We’ve been in Afghanistan for five years,” he told The New York Times. “In our effort to create more content, and relevant content, this was a natural step in production.”
The United States State Department has helped fund each of the five seasons of the show in Afghanistan. It is produced in Kabul and features live-action films about the traditions and culture of life in Afghanistan. Clearly, this is another prime example of how arts and culture is able to bridge gaps if we allow it to.
The show’s lineup of extended, international characters doesn’t stop with Zari. They have introduced Muppets in several other regions like Bangladesh, Egypt, Mexico.
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