A historical perspective on the evolution and presentations of the ideal in children’s television: A study of Kenyan television from 1989 to 2012
Main Article Content
Abstract
This paper aims at offering a brief history of children’s television in Kenya since 1989 when Voice of Kenya (VoK) was rebranded Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC). The year 1989 is unique in the sense that broadcasting hours were increased, giving room for more programmes for children. This paper tries to provide a historical progression of Kenyan children’s television programmes, while analysing their portrayal of the world to the child. The paper will also look at notable opinions by Kenyan scholars on what children television ought to be vis-à-vis what it is. This paper concludes that although the Kenyan society (and to a great extent, television stations) still habours the idea that children are innocent individuals being natured to join the society by controlling the content they watch, we may be misleading ourselves. It must be accepted that currently children have multiple venues in which they can access various media with varied content. The paper accepts that children have varied intellect, experiences, interests and come from different backgrounds with different expectations of what is entertaining and what is boring. Although the paper does accept that television is a useful tool for culture transmission, it challenges the idea that children are a homogeneous group that can do with a standard offering.
Downloads
Article Details
This open-access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-NC-SA) license.
You are free to: Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
How to Cite
References
Alembi, E. (2003) ‘Children are Not Miniature Adults: Some Reflections on the Primary School Category Scripts of the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival’. Unpublished paper presented on 28th August 2003 at the National Workshop for Drama Teachers in Mombasa, Kenya
Alstrom, E. (1957). Let’s Play a Story. New York: Friendship Press.
Alvarado, M. et al (1987). Learning the Media: An Introduction to Media Teaching. London: Macmillan Education
Calhoun, C. et al. (1995). Understanding Sociology. New York: McGraw-Hill
Davis, J. A. and Watkins M. (1960). Children’s Theatre. New York: Harper and Row
Fabes, R. A. et al. (1989). ‘A Time to Reexamine the Role of Television in Family Life’. In Family Relations. (Vol 38. No. 3. p. 337). New York: National Council of Family Relations
Fox, G. (1978). Writers, Critics and Children. New York: Agathon
Giddens, A. (2001). Sociology (4th Ed). London: Polity
Huck, C. S. (1979). Children’s Literature in the Elementary School (3rd Ed). New York: Hold and Winston
Hunt, P. (1994). An Introduction to Children’s Literature. London: Oxford University Press
Kabui, E. W. (1997). ‘The Status of Children’s Theatre in Nairobi.’ Unpublished M.A Thesis: Kenyatta University
Lynskey, . (1974). Children and Themes: London: Oxford University Press
McQuail, D. (1994). Mass Communication Theory: An Introduction (3rd Ed). London: Sage Publications
Mugubi, J. (2012). ‘The Aesthetics of Children’s Television Drama: A Study of Machachari.’ Unpublished paper
Ray, S. G. (1970). Children’s Fiction: A Handbook for Librarians. Leicester: Brockhampton Press
Rodman, G. (2001). Making Sense of Media: An Introduction to Mass Communication. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Siks, G. B. (1985). Creative Dramatics: An Art for Children. New York: Harper and Row
Tsikhungu, S. E. (2008). ‘An Analysis of Selected Plays Presented at the Kenya National Primary Schools’ Drama Festival Between 1980 and 2003’. Unpublished M.A Thesis: Kenyatta University
Weche, M. O. (2000). ‘Children’s Literature as an Image-forming Force: Case Study of Ezekiel Alembi’s Books’ Unpublished M.A Thesis: Kenyatta University
Wesonga, R. (2011). ‘The Portrait of a Secondary School Student in a Contemporary Kenyan Television Drama: A Study of Tahidi High’. Unpublished M.A Thesis: Kenyatta University.