Thoughts on educational programming for today’s Nigerian children
Anyone who grew up in 1980s and 1990s Nigeria would recall the “Tales by Moonlight” children’s programme. It was syndicated across all Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) stations nationwide and aired every Sunday evening. It was arguably the most popular indigenous children’s programme of that period.
The programme would start with the storyteller, Aunty Nkem sitting outside a thatched mud hut in a village with many children gathered around her. She would be perched on a stool while the children would be seated on mats, forming a semi-circle around her, eagerly awaiting the story of the day. Aunty Nkem would kick off by saying “Story story” to which the children would respond “story” and then she would say “Once upon a time” and the children would respond “time time”.
The stories were always told at night under the moonlight (hence the programme’s name) and Aunty Nkem would weave a wonderful tale to the wondrous amazement of the children. The programme featured folktales from different tribes across the country and each story was dramatised by a professional acting crew. We would go from watching Aunty Nkem and the children to watching the acting crew portray the characters and story live on TV.
Many of the folktales involved talking animals with the actors wearing costumes depicting the relevant animals. At the end of the story, we would return to see Aunty Nkem and the children. She would ask them to share what they had learnt from the story and then she would wrap up with the moral of the story. The programme was very engaging as there was always a lot to learn. From each tale, one would learn different character-building morals.
Children saw characters exposed to various life situations, whether good or bad and how they responded to them. They saw how people made decisions in those situations and they observed the type of consequences that followed the decisions that were made. Children learnt first hand the need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. They learnt about the need to be honest and maintain integrity, and also about planning, being frugal, and living within one’s means. Patience and gratitude, being hardworking and smart, and having compassion for others were also some of the other lessons that were portrayed in “Tales by Moonlight”.
The NTA also held an annual TV festival which was hosted by different states across the country. The event, which focused on promoting various Nigerian cultures, would last for a week and showcase diverse programmes for all ages. I enjoyed watching the children’s programmes. They showed what life was like in other states: how people lived, what languages they spoke, what they wore, and what they ate. The programmes piqued my curiosity and opened my eyes to what life outside Lagos was like.
There were also a few other children’s programmes like “Kidivision 101” and “Speak Out”, which were more focused on formal education (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, etc.) These programmes, whilst educating children on their relevant subject areas, also included aspects of our Nigerian culture, which enhanced cultural as well as formal education.
I guess the advent of cable television with the introduction of a wider range of foreign programmes became a distraction from local content programming. That and also the prevailing mindset among many people who welcomed foreign content over local content. It’s surprising to me because both local and foreign content were consumed in fairly equal measure before cable TV became more accessible. Gradually, fewer children watched NTA programmes when they could have their pick from foreign children’s TV stations on cable.
I honestly cannot help but remember the impact many of these indigenous children’s programmes had on the generation of children who consumed those content. There was a deliberate attempt to encourage the awareness, appreciation, and celebration of diverse cultures across the country. It didn’t matter whether you lived in Lagos or Langtang, Wukari or Warri, Aba or Abuja, you were exposed to a bit of what the other side of the country was like. Many of those children, now adults, can attest to adopting values, learning songs and dances, and picking up the basic greetings of diverse cultures.
We may have lost a significant period where parents ditched local programming in favour of foreign content. A generation of children, now adults, who may not have received cultural education through the media like those before them. However, in more recent years, we have had a resurgence of sorts as media access has expanded beyond TV and radio, and independent producers have discovered this niche.
The role of the media in entrenching cultural values across society can not be downplayed. We see its effects every day in our attitudes and behaviours. It’s amazing how many people are more conversant with foreign issues as compared with indigenous ones because of the media’s role. The coming of the internet and the subsequent availability of diverse content from across the globe has also proven to be a competition for the dissemination of our local ideals. Despite this, several indigenous content providers have already begun to fill in the gaps in local content.
Creators on online video streaming sites such as YouTube and social networking sites such as Facebook and Instagram, now provide access to indigenous edutainment content for children. Some private production houses have begun creating content for children in various formats like cartoons, quiz shows, and dramas, for both traditional and digital media. The challenge, however, is probably to get more people aware of the indigenous content available, and also encourage children to consume the content.
Many of us talk about the problems of the country and how we have deviated from the moral standards we grew up with. Many of us are guilty of not passing on these values to the generations that have come after us but all hope is not lost. It would be wonderful if the relevant government agencies could incentivise production houses to produce targeted cultural content for children. Not just children in Nigeria but also those abroad, considering the increase in migration rates. Many diaspora parents hope that they can bring their children up with the values they grew up with, providing relevant content could be one good way of ensuring this.
Our future generations can only be as good as the future they are prepared for. As we focus on technology, we must not abandon our culture and history. We have so many stories to tell, so many indigenous and representative stories. We need to help the younger generation reconnect with our history as a nation and gain access to information on as many cultures as possible. We need to enhance awareness of the morals and standards that existed in times past so we can pass them on to future generations. Let us provide access and encourage our younger ones to consume local content, it just may be one of the stepping stones towards building the Nigeria we desire. This is the way I see things today.