Former teacher and top Nigerian presenter Denrele Edun is set to add some spice to the new season of Lip Sync Battle Africa.
The gender-bending Edun is a regular on the Nigerian red carpets with his over-the-top outfits, wild mane, sky-high platform shoes and larger-than-life personality.
He is also dubbed by some as the Somizi of Nigeria and he replaces Nigerian megastar D'banj on season two of the hit music show he hosts with local star Pearl Thusi.
Speaking to Sowetan on Monday, on the set of the show, Edun said his former life as a school teacher came in handy. His closest friend on set was Thusi's nine-year-old daughter Thandolwethu Mokoena, who followed him around.
The flamboyant Edun dabbled in entertainment aged just 11 on a Nigerian kiddies television show. He said he was shocked to receive a call from MTV Base saying he was wanted for the Lip Sync Battle Africa job.
"When I got the call I wasn't sure what they were calling me for exactly so I thought maybe they wanted me to come back as a contestant or be a back-end commentator who doesn't really appear on TV so, to cut the long story short, I got the gig and was not sure who I would be working with," he said.
"I was at a point in my life where I did not know what my next move would be. I mean, my greatest fear is running out of work. I wanted something that was very vibrant and where I would have a blast."
Edun said the mystery surrounding his co-host kept him in suspense.
"While I was doing screen tests they threw three names at me, which were Nomzamo [Mbatha], Bonang [Matheba] and Pearl.
"I got a call-back and I kept thinking Pearl would be nice to work with because she was on the first season.
"When I got to a production meeting one day, the first person who was sitting across on the other side in the boardroom was this Quantico mama herself."
Thusi was called back as the shooting coincided with her break from shooting thriller series Quantico in the US. She said she and Edun have a connection.
"When I don't know what to say I just link to him and I know he will up the energy again. I know he is always there to lift me up when I am feeling down and I am always there for him too. I was very excited when he came on, but I was worried whether I would be strong enough to work with him," she said.
The new season premieres in South Africa on April 6 at 9.30pm on MTV Base and a week later on e.tv.
madibogoj@sowetan.co.za
Flamboyant Denrele to bring spice to TV
Former teacher and top Nigerian presenter Denrele Edun is set to add some spice to the new season of Lip Sync Battle Africa.
The gender-bending Edun is a regular on the Nigerian red carpets with his over-the-top outfits, wild mane, sky-high platform shoes and larger-than-life personality.
He is also dubbed by some as the Somizi of Nigeria and he replaces Nigerian megastar D'banj on season two of the hit music show he hosts with local star Pearl Thusi.
Speaking to Sowetan on Monday, on the set of the show, Edun said his former life as a school teacher came in handy. His closest friend on set was Thusi's nine-year-old daughter Thandolwethu Mokoena, who followed him around.
The flamboyant Edun dabbled in entertainment aged just 11 on a Nigerian kiddies television show. He said he was shocked to receive a call from MTV Base saying he was wanted for the Lip Sync Battle Africa job.
"When I got the call I wasn't sure what they were calling me for exactly so I thought maybe they wanted me to come back as a contestant or be a back-end commentator who doesn't really appear on TV so, to cut the long story short, I got the gig and was not sure who I would be working with," he said.
"I was at a point in my life where I did not know what my next move would be. I mean, my greatest fear is running out of work. I wanted something that was very vibrant and where I would have a blast."
Edun said the mystery surrounding his co-host kept him in suspense.
"While I was doing screen tests they threw three names at me, which were Nomzamo [Mbatha], Bonang [Matheba] and Pearl.
"I got a call-back and I kept thinking Pearl would be nice to work with because she was on the first season.
"When I got to a production meeting one day, the first person who was sitting across on the other side in the boardroom was this Quantico mama herself."
Thusi was called back as the shooting coincided with her break from shooting thriller series Quantico in the US. She said she and Edun have a connection.
"When I don't know what to say I just link to him and I know he will up the energy again. I know he is always there to lift me up when I am feeling down and I am always there for him too. I was very excited when he came on, but I was worried whether I would be strong enough to work with him," she said.
The new season premieres in South Africa on April 6 at 9.30pm on MTV Base and a week later on e.tv.
madibogoj@sowetan.co.za
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