A voyage of choices and consequences within animated film ‘Hello Kesho’

For avid followers of Tai Tanzania, the dynamic duo of Ngeti and Zongwe needs no introduction.

These two stars have been on a mission, imparting invaluable lessons to teenagers on living life to the fullest and navigating the intricate web of consequences that accompany their choices.

They’ve been fighting, teaching, and showing teenagers the best way to live life to the fullest and be able to survive the best outcomes of their lives.

In a captivating seven minutes and four seconds, the animation weaves a tapestry of experiences, serving as a poignant reminder of the critical importance of sexual reproductive health (SRH) awareness among today's youth.

The film unfolds as a teacher assigns holiday projects to Ngeti, Zongwe, and Sophie.

While the trio was accepting their project ideas, the teacher was met with resistance when it came to imparting knowledge on sexual reproductive health, revealing a stark reality in our youth awareness.

The film raises thought-provoking questions through a teacher's inquiry: "Wote mnauhakika kuwa Kesho yenu itakuwa salama?" Are you all assured that tomorrow will be safe? to which the eager students respond with an unthinking "Ndio Mwalimu." Yes, teacher.

As the storyline unfolds, Ngeti tests her time machine, propelling herself to the year 2033 to glimpse her future.

This marks the first time local cinema has introduced futuristic technology with a unique twist.

Communication and Partnership Manager at Tai Tanzania, Emmyrose Rugumamu, explains that the time machine concept aims to empower young people to foresee the consequences of their actions, enabling them to make informed decisions.

“This means that young people are in better positions to make better decisions for themselves if they can see their consequences”.

She adds, “Imagine if you were able to see your life today, ten years ago, and had the opportunity to make decisions. Would you have changed anything?” asks Ms. Rugumamu.

The plot takes an unexpected turn as Ngeti discovers a challenging future where she grapples with multiple unplanned pregnancies, courtesy of her friend Zongwe, who like Ngeti neglects the importance of safe sex.

Further time travels lead Ngeti to Sophie's future, where the consequences of ignoring sexual reproductive health education manifest in the form of an HIV diagnosis.

Faced with these revelations, Ngeti decides to share her experiences with her friends, urging them to reconsider the importance of learning about sexual reproductive health.

The reason to learn all these is to make sure that tomorrow is a safe one.

Whether you're an animation enthusiast or not, "Hello Kesho" plays a significant role in shaping the destinies of our young protagonists.

Emmyrose sheds light on the film's foundation, emphasising its roots in the community's prevalent issues.

“The animation is based on the fact that many young people in our community do not have the right information and knowledge on comprehensive sexuality education, which results in encouraging them to encounter different sexual reproductive health issues such as early pregnancy, child marriage, gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS,” she explains.

Ms. Emmyrose further advocates for access to such education from various sources in the community.

“This information could be from a teacher as portrayed in the film, the health service facilities found in our community, or a trusted adult like a parent,” she says.

Speaking about Tai, Emmyrose shares that they use stories to inspire social behaviour change.

“In Hello Kesho, we introduce an aspect of fiction with time travel for Ngeti as a tool of storytelling that keeps our audience engaged and interested while at the same time learning from the key message,” she shares.

Based on real collected information from different people, the animation enhanced it and created a different story ending of possibility that could be if.

Usually, they intend to use as much creativity to captivate audiences with unique stories that they gather from the ground and pass across as a message to young people.

Speaking about their involvement in improving the local film industry in the country, it’s about how they use innovative ways of storytelling.

“We use innovative ways of modern storytelling that have an African taste to draw a larger global audiencew to African and Tanzanian animation, which in turn will create more impact and increase demand for stories that change lives,” she insists.

Because of that, that’s why Tai Tanzania mainly focuses on creating an impact through storytelling in different areas.

“Their four main areas, on which Tai Tanzania focuses, are health and wellbeing, inclusion and diversity, green initiatives, and equitable education.

“With a focus on these main areas, we also collaborate and partner with various organisations that address different issues but have some similarly aligned or complementary goals. This helps to create a bigger impact in our community,” she narrates.

As "Hello Kesho" unfolds its narrative, it serves as a resonant call for heightened awareness and open conversations surrounding sexual reproductive health.

The animation prompts reflection on the choices made during adolescence and the far-reaching consequences that may follow.

In a world increasingly driven by visual storytelling, "Hello Kesho" emerges as a beacon of both artistic brilliance and social impact, reminding audiences of the power that lies in informed choices and the potential for redemption even in the face of grave consequences.