Hikayat Simsim Portrays the Modern Face of Jordan

When Sesame Workshop producer Naila Farouky started working on the locally produced Jordanian version of Sesame Street, Hikayat Simsim, she knew that this show would be a different experience from any of the other co-productions she had worked on.

Juljul and Tonton (Hikayat Simsim)

Sesame Street has had a presence in the Middle East for nearly 30 years, having debuted its first Arabic co-production, Iftah Ya Simsim, in Kuwait in 1979. In October 2003, this presence expanded again with the launch of Hikayat Simsim.

Khaled Haddad, Hikayat Simsim’s executive producer, says that the show helps to fill a gap in the production of education and entertaining programs for children in Jordan.

“We’ve created local Muppet characters who appeal to young children through cleverness and humor relevant to their everyday lives, while the animation and live action segments help foster self-esteem and mirror our rich cultural heritage,” Haddad says.  

The show seeks to represent the modern Jordan, which has gone through rapid recent change. As a result, the show focuses on computer literacy and girls’ empowerment, while also incorporating a Jordanian sense of humor. The team worked hard on the show’s comedic style, and Farouky says they “really tried to draw out the things that were light-hearted, fun, and frivolous.” According to Farouky, girls in Jordan don’t “stumble and fall and play harsh sports,” so the team decided to push these boundaries by adding physical comedy as part of the girl character Tonton’s personality.

The dynamic Muppet duo Tonton and Juljul are best friends and the stars of the show. They appeal to preschoolers through humor and wit. Tonton, an outgoing 4 year old, is confident and optimistic, while Juljul is a patient, sincere 6-year-old who loves computers. Together they explore their imagination and are accompanied by their human grandfather, Jiddo Simsim, or “Grandpa Sesame.”

Queen Rania’s support for Hikayat Simsim

Since the second season of Hikayat Simsim began airing in May 2007, the show has picked up a great deal of momentum, in part because Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah is a dedicated patron and supporter.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Elmo at the Sesame Workshop Gala in 2005

“She has validated and acknowledged the importance of the show for Jordan and Jordanian children,” Farouky says.

The queen’s interest and involvement in Hikayat Simsim is just one of the ways she has helped set a national agenda in Jordan that puts children first. Queen Rania has spearheaded a number of pioneering efforts like Dar Al-Aman, the “House of Safety,” where children who have been abused and neglected find protection and the possibility for a better life. She has also worked hard to close what she calls the “Hope Gap,” the gulf between those who grow up nourished by the promise of peace with justice, equal opportunity, and tolerance for others, and those who do grow up without this advantage. Children growing up with this “gulf” are likely to be more vulnerable to the despair and violence that perpetuates age-old conflicts and limits their sense of what is possible.

To honor her extensive work with children, Sesame Workshop presented Queen Rania with the Sesame Workshop Award in 2005. Accepting the award at Sesame Workshop’s annual benefit event, she said, “Through the doors that Sesame Street has opened wide around the world, children see a future full of color, music, opportunity and hope – and no matter what they look like or where they come from, they’re always assured of a warm welcome and encouraged to come inside." 

Funding Partners
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Production Partners
Jordan Pioneers

Broadcasters
Jordan Television