"Adam's Influence: A Communication transcending Africa"
The Tale of Adam Redux:
Hear ye, hear ye! A yarn straight from the heartland of Tanzania, where stories as old as time intertwine with the vibrant spirit of its people.
Starting as a whisper, a humble notion to weave key biblical stories for children in East Africa, this animated series, The Tale of Adam, adds a fresh coat of color to the timeless tales.
Originating deep within the heart of Tanzania, Anne Marken Gihlemoen and her husband, Norwegian missionaries, embarked on a journey to restore meaning in the lives of local children. With the man behind the scenes, Roger Gihlemoen, a programmer and animation maestro, the concept came to life.
In his year confined at home with their two daughters, learning the language of the land, Roger pondered how he could contribute to this bountiful new environment. A flash of inspiration struck — create something profound and heartfelt for the young minds of Tanzania.
And so sprouted the idea of The Tale of Adam, a series that would breathe life into foundational Bible stories in a simple, relatable, and culturally attuned manner. In the beginning, Gihlemoen envisioned a solitary endeavor. He roamed the bustling streets and markets of Tanzania, apprenticing himself to the local artists and culture, seeking a visual style that resonated with the local populace.
The final product, years later, is an ethereal masterpiece that bears witness to the harmonious symphony of East African creative expression. The characters appear as handcrafted clay sculptures — a testament to Adam's origins from the earth — with intricate details crafted from the very waste materials of the land.
Rusty screws and nuts adorn the snakes and crocodiles, the sacrificial lamb is pieced together from discarded metal strips, and the trees are woven from wires and beads. This recycled art style was inspired by humble souvenir vendors who refashioned scrap materials into eye-catching trinkets.
"It's akin to Dutch wooden clogs," Gihlemoen elucidated in an interview with Czech magazine Život víry. "The Dutch no longer wear them, but they are symbols of their heritage. Recycled art is a Tanzanian symbol. I aimed to create a visual style that encapsulates East African culture, using local colors, materials, and inspiration."
Five original scripts were written and later divided into shorter episodes, each around 12 minutes long, tailored to the modern attention-span. Each installment has its distinct theme and musical motif. Stories include Creation, Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, David and Goliath, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus' birth, and The Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
As of now, the first six episodes are accessible online, delving into the creation of the world, Adam and Eve's expulsion from Eden, God's promise to Abram, and the births of Ishmael and Isaac.
The animated characters are brought to life using real actors, digitally transformed beyond all recognition. This enabled a single actor to embody Adam, Isaac, David, Joseph, and Jesus, preventing debates about skin color common in traditional forms of animation.
As the project expanded in scope and ambitions, additional collaborators joined forces, and funding became a necessity. It takes around €50,000 to produce a single episode, though small donors and crowdfunding back the series today.
The journey began with an unexpected meeting — with representatives from Norea, a nonprofit organization, the project took root. But it began with a jest. Gihlemoen, with a cheeky grin, remarked, "Gentlemen, if you gave me $50,000, I could buy professional equipment." Unfazed by his humor, they took the remark to heart and backed his ambitious vision.
The high-quality visual effects contributed to new opportunities, raising the aspirations of the production team. The quality difference between the first episode produced in 2019 and the sixth episode is palpable.
The talented ensemble now comprises graphic designers, singers, actors, translators, and even theologians. As with any adaptation, keeping theological accuracy is a challenge. Gihlemoen makes revisions to maintain loyalty to the original tales, ensuring they resonate with the target audience.
Ultimately, Gihlemoen envisions The Tale of Adam as a gateway for people to discover Jesus. By captivating East African children, he hopes to share timeless biblical truths with the masses. Initially created in Swahili, the lingua franca of the region, The Tale of Adam is being translated into Somali, Turkish, Arabic, British English, and Norwegian. The journey might take this simple idea to unexpected places, but the series has already sparked interest in Christian communities across East Asia and the United States. Even the ultimate goal of reaching Tanzanian children proves to be an ambitious endeavor, considering the significant Muslim population in the region.
"A Muslim mother with four or five children is my target audience," Gihlemoen confides. "If she’s intrigued, she’ll let her kids watch. Fathers are busy, gathering at the mosque, or socializing. Mothers are the heart of the household. If I reach her, I reach the children." Feedback from Tanzanian viewers has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Islam doesn't teach us much about Jesus," shares Amina. "I would really like to learn what His life story was actually like. I truly love the story of Abraham and Sarah."
Another viewer, Neema, adds, "The film is fantastic. At first, I thought it was primarily for children, but when I watched it, I learned something new. The story is beautifully presented."
Though reactions from Muslim viewers may vary, Gihlemoen hopes that the series will resonate with people of all faiths, offering a comprehensive understanding of the characters and stories from the Bible. "Some will dismiss it. But some will watch."
- The unique visual style of the animated series, The Tale of Adam, is a fusion of Africa's home-and-garden waste materials and local artistry, reminiscent of Dutch wooden clogs symbolizing their heritage.
- The Tale of Adam, a narrative merging biblical stories with the vibrant Tanzanian lifestyle, aims to reach new audiences in entertainment, particularly within the lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty sector.
- In an effort to engage a broader audience and share the timeless tales, The Tale of Adam is being translated into various languages, reaching beyond home-and-garden African landscapes to Christian communities in East Asia and the United States, bridging the gap between cultures and promoting interiors design education.
