"[...] Tonny Njuguna ist Schauspieler und einer der beiden Moderatoren von Shamba Shape Up, einer Reality-TV-Show aus Kenia. "Shamba" bedeutet Farm in der Landessprache Kisuaheli, "shape up" ist Englisch und heißt so viel wie aufmotzen oder pimpen. Allein in Kenia schauen Woche für Woche bis zu ne
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un Millionen Menschen zu – und das bei 55 Millionen Einwohnern. Das Format ist so erfolgreich, dass Shamba Shape Up mittlerweile fast in jedem großen kenianischen Fernsehsender Nachahmer hat und das Original in andere ostafrikanische Länder exportiert wird.
Shamba Shape Up gibt es seit 2010, und während das Team die dreizehnte Staffel dreht, läuft im Fernsehen die zwölfte. Die Idee hat Ähnlichkeiten mit MTVs Pimp My Ride, wo der Rapper Xzibit Anfang der 2000er Schrottautos tunen ließ. Bei Shamba Shape Up geht es dagegen um andere Dinge: um das richtige Futter für die Kühe, wie man seine Farm an die Klimakrise anpasst und wann es sinnvoll ist, sich gegen Ernteausfälle zu versichern. Um finanzielle Bildung für Bauern, darum, was es heißt, sich gut zu ernähren, und was man tun kann, wenn der eigene Hof von eingewanderten Pflanzen überwuchert wird. Das Wichtigste dabei ist, dass nicht nur den Bauern geholfen wird, sondern die Zuschauer etwas lernen. Zum Beispiel, wie man Passionsfrüchte richtig pflanzt. So wie Vivien Machanury jedenfalls nicht. Ihre ersten Pflanzen waren zu widerspenstigen Büschen herangewachsen, deren mickrige Früchte sie aus dem Gestrüpp herausschütteln musste. Drei Tage lang wird das Filmteam auf ihrem Hof drehen, am Ende soll sie wissen, was sie besser machen kann: "Ich kenne das aus meinem vorigen Job: sich auf ein Projekt konzentrieren, dann das nächste angehen."
Vivian Machanury ist 50 Jahre alt. Vor drei Jahren hat sie ihren Beruf bei einem Telefonnetz-Betreiber aufgegeben. An der Wand ihres Hauses hängen noch Auszeichnungen als Mitarbeiterin des Monats und Zertifikate von Weiterbildungen. In ihrem Job hatte sie zuletzt ein Team von 50 Mitarbeitenden unter sich. Dann wurde sie Bäuerin. "Weißt du", sagt sie zu Tonny Njuguna, "ich habe mir das nur zugetraut, weil ich immer eure Sendung geguckt habe." Der ist sichtlich gerührt. "Das müssen wir gleich noch mal vor der Kamera machen", sagt er. [...]"
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"Edutainment, the combination of education with entertainment through various media such as television, radio, mobile phone applications and games, is increasingly being used as an approach to stimulate innovation and increase agricultural productivity amongst smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Afri
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ca. Shamba Shape Up, a widely publicised makeover reality TV programme, is an example of edutainment that has received considerable attention, and airs in three countries in East Africa where it is estimated to be watched by millions of viewers.
There is no published academic research on the influence of makeover television formats on innovation systems and processes in smallholder agriculture. Using an Agricultural Innovation Systems approach, this paper explores how makeover edutainment is influencing smallholder farmer innovation systems together with the effect this is having on smallholder farms. In the absence of previous research, it articulates a Theory of Change which draws on research traditions from mass communication, agricultural extension and innovation systems. Data came from two large scale quantitative (n=9885 and n=1572) surveys and in-depth participatory qualitative research comprising focus group discussions, participatory budgets, agricultural timelines, case studies and key information interviews in Kenya. An estimated 430,000 farmers in the study area were benefiting from their interaction with the programme through increased income and / or a range of related social benefits including food security, improving household health, diversification of livelihood choices, paying school fees for children and increasing their community standing / social capital.
Participatory research showed SSU enhanced an already rich communication environment and strengthened existing processes of innovation. It helped set the agenda for discussions within farming communities about opportunities for improving smallholder farms, while also giving specific ideas, information and knowledge, all in the context of featured farm families carefully selected so that a wide range of viewers would identify with them and their challenges.
Broadcasts motivated and inspired farmers to improve their own farms through a range of influences including entertainment, strong empathy with the featured host farm families, the way ideas emerged through interaction with credible experts, and importantly through stimulating widespread discussion and interaction amongst and between farmers and communities of experts on agricultural problems, solutions and opportunities. The fact that local extension workers also watched the programmes further enhanced the influence on local innovation systems. The findings indicate that well designed makeover edutainment can strongly influence agricultural innovation processes and systems resulting in impact on the agricultural production and behaviours of large numbers of smallholder farmers." (Abstract)
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"Makutano Junction is an ‘edutainment’ soap opera made for local TV stations in Kenya and other East African countries. The show is about a fictional peri-urban village and the people who live in it. The program is made in Kenya, but was devised and is produced by Mediae, a UK based company that
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works with the support and collaboration of some major Kenyan and international NGOs. Mediae was founded by the producers David Campbell and Kate Lloyd Morgan. Since it began broadcasting in 2007 Makutano Junction has become one of the most popular shows on Kenyan TV; currently around 8 million viewers watch it every week, which is about 20% of the country’s entire population. Mediae have created a small stable of TV and radio shows mostly for Kenya, but also for Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. They all give rural Africans access to the latest information and discussions about issues that concern them. The themes and plotlines for these shows are informed by extensive and careful research in the field, conducted by themselves or partner organisations.
Some of Mediae’s work is highly innovative. An example of this is the show Shamba Shape Up, which is also a major hit in Kenya and neighbouring countries. Shamba means ‘farm’ in Swahili, and as the title suggests it’s a kind of small farm makeover show. So presenters and experts visit smallholding farmers, and on camera, discuss problems that they might be having, with animal health, crop yield, market strategies etc, and consider solutions and strategies. Then they put a plan into action, and have a follow up show to see the results. Some 10 million viewers across East Africa view this show every week, even more than Makutano Junction. A very important aspect of this show is its associated app; I-Shamba, with which farmers are able to use mobile phones to access a database of up to the minute information and advice. Once remote smallholding farmers are increasingly connecting, interacting and educating themselves through this special show and app." (Page 99-100)
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