Nickelodeon Africa will launch SpongeBob SquarePants: isiZulu on Monday 5th December at 15:00 CAT on NickToons, DStv channel 308.
As one of the most popular programmes on Nickelodeon, with a cumulative audience of 10 million viewers, the channel hopes to move the needle on promoting and preserving local language through pop-culture. Subtitled in English, SpongeBob SquarePants: isiZulu offers a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to learn and be entertained in isiZulu, one of the official languages in South Africa.
SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most loved, most watched and most recognisable animation characters of all time, on TV and online. Loved by children and adults alike globally, he is the most watched show on YouTube and Facebook in South Africa with more than 1.5 billion views for the year so far. Nickelodeon tested interest in an isiZulu-dubbed version SpongeBob SquarePants on the animated character’s 36th birthday in July this year and the resonance was clear. Furthermore, this initiative is inline with Paramount Africa’s mission to strive for creative excellence and cultural impact across the programming of all its channels.
“Paramount Africa and Nickelodeon are committed to playing a pivotal role in promoting diversity, creativity and edutainment for African youth. Through Nickelodeon Africa’s dubbing of SpongeBob SquarePants into isiZulu we are unleashing the power of content; unleashing the value, impact and emotion of an already iconic piece of content. In so doing, we allow our children to see and hear themselves in the characters they have grown to love,” explains Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount Africa and Peer Lead, BET International.
“We couldn’t just choose any show to achieve our mission of cultural impact and better representation on our channel; we had to choose the best. SpongeBob SquarePants has earned his stripes and this isiZulu series aims to preserve local language base and reach for new audiences, ” continues Twala.
While it is widely recognised that pop-culture contributes to the promotion of African language and culture, Nickelodeon’s ability to bring South African’s together, through the under-the-sea-world of SpongeBob SquarePants: isiZulu, is a celebration of Ubuntu. Nickelodeon invites South African families to join the celebration and share in this cultural milestone, every Monday at 07:30 and 15:00 on NickToons, starting 5 December 2022.
The trailer also features SpongeBob donning a Zulu vest.
The news was mostly met with positive reactions on social media.
"My baby brother has been telling me about uSpongebob okhuluma IsiZulu. we're soooo excited!!. It took ne back to the time my uncle came home with the Lion King yesiZulu sasijabuleni," said @KaziiMtshali_.
@sakhsrad added: "This is progressive and amazing. We often speak about inclusivity and diversity and this right here is it. As small as it is, it speaks volumes about the way Nickelodeon is operating. Hoping other big platforms will follow suit."
For the best kids’ entertainment and more on SpongeBob SquarePants: isiZulu stay tuned to NickToons, DStv Channel 308.
You can also catch the full episode on Nickelodeon Africa Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NickelodeonAfrica.
SpongeBob Squarepants in isiZulu on DStv | DStv
Let your little one enjoy their fqvourite cartoon show in isiZulu.
Learn IsiZulu with SpongeBob SquarePants | DStv
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#shorts Funda IsiZulu no Spongebob Squarepants!! | DStv
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Originally published: November 30, 2022.
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