By Wanique Block
A few months ago, Nickelodeon Africa tested interest in an isiZulu-dubbed version of well-known cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants.
This test was done during the animated series’ 36th birthday.
“We are thrilled to present the premiere of the first SpongeBob SquarePants episode in isiZulu. This is a first in Africa. This provides audiences the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the iconic world of Bikini Bottom like never before”, said Dillon Khan, the senior vice-president at Nickelodeon Africa.
The Zulu version of the well known cartoon series passed the test leaving many on social media impressed. And as a result will now debut on our TV screens this coming December.
Zulu SpongeBob is literally the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while
— 𝓔𝓵𝓵𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓼💗 (@whateverkekesay) July 17, 2022
This initiative is said too be in line with Paramount Africa’s mission and vision to strive for both creative and cultural impact across all programming.
“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,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Paramount Africa and Peer Lead, BET International.
Monde Twala continued: “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”.
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