South African
entertainment superstar Pearl
Thusi and Nigerian music
legend D’Banj will host Lip Sync Battle Africa. Pearl Thusi will serve as all around host and
“master of ceremonies”, while “Koko Master” and “Oliver Twist” star D’Banj will step up as the “colour
commentator”, adding his lively observations to the proceedings.
Lip Sync Battle Africa will premiere in April 2016 on MTV Base (DStv channel 322, GOtv
channel 72).
The critically acclaimed
and award-nominated Lip Sync
Battle, originally created
for Spike, features
celebrities going head-to-head, lip-syncing the song of their
choice, battling for the coolest bragging rights on the planet.
Multi-talented actress,
radio DJ, model and television personality Pearl
Thusi is a fixture on the
South African entertainment scene. The KZN-born beauty currently stars in
popular South African soap opera Isidingo in the recurring role of Palesa
Motaung, as well as co-hosting Live
AMP with DJ Warras and Luthando Shosha.
Musician, wit and
virtuoso harmonica player D’Banj, best known for
his mastery of the contemporary Afrobeat genre, first catapulted to fame in
2005 following the release of his debut album, No Long Thing, and has
subsequently enjoyed success with global hits such as “Oliver Twist”, “Fall
in Love” and “Suddenly”.
His latest release, “Emergency”, is grabbing headlines and notching up
radio airplay around the continent. Among his many accolades and awards, D’Banj has won Best African Act and Artist of the Year at theMTV
EMAs and MTV Africa Music Awards (MAMA) and was named Best International Act (Africa) at the BET Awards.
Pearl Thusi commented, “Lip Sync Battle is such an incredible social, cultural
and media sensation, I am so excited to be a part of bringing it to African
audiences.”
Added D’Banj, “It’s an honour and a privilege to be
hosting Lip Sync Battle Africa.
I’m excited, willing and ready to entertain the continent on such a great
platform. I am looking forward to seeing how well my fellow celebrities battle
each other and entertain the world.”
Alex Okosi, Senior Vice
President & Managing Director, VIMN Africa, commented, “We are thrilled to translate this global hit
franchise to Africa for the first time. With huge personalities such as D’Banj and Pearl
Thusi at the helm, Lip Sync Battle Africa cannot fail to emulate the success of
the franchise in the United States, and spin-offs in other territories such as
the United Kingdom, Canada and Chile.”
Speaking on behalf of MTV Base, Ifeoma Williams, said, “With great chemistry between
our hosts and a fantastic line-up of contestants from across the cultural
spectrum, Lip Sync Battle
Africa is guaranteed to
capture the attention and affection of our audience in Africa. Whether
you are 15 or 55 years old, you’ll be “lip syncing” in the car, with your
friends, or in the shower. We hope and expect that people will take to
social media and tag each other to start battling each other with #LSBChallenge.”
