Denrele Edun Breaks Silence Since Taking Over From D’banj as Lip Syn Battle Co-Host

Denrele Edun Breaks Silence Since Taking Over From D’banj as Lip Syn Battle Co-Host

South African media superstar Pearl Thusi and Denrele Edun have both opened up on what it feels like working together as co-hosts of famous show Lip Sync Battle since D’banj left.

In new chat with Times Live, Thusi says she is adapting to Denrele’s energy and wouldn’t want the unapologetic entertainer to ‘dumb himself’ down for her. While Edun, whose energy and controversial fashion style always made the headlines, said he was quite afraid after he got the contract to take over D’banj’s spot, which is a big deal because D’banj’s charisma onstage is one a huge one to contend with.

Denrele Edun took over from D’banj as the co-presenter of season two of the African edition of the renowned show, and now the new co-host speaks about working with Thusi and how they feed off each other’s strength.

“She’s my in-house producer‚” says Edun of Thusi‚ and on taking over from D’banj, he said, “D’banj is Africa’s baddest so I just thought to myself‚ I’m going to be doing this?”

“I was worried. But [Thusi] would come to me and say I have these lines and just give me extra direction for us to make it more vivacious‚” he continued, adding, “All in all‚ it’s [an] unequalled‚ unparalleled and unrivaled‚ beautiful madness – try not to watch us; we dare you!”

Thusi‚ on the other hand, says she is no longer rigid and this has made working with the energetic Denrele Edun easier.

She said:

“I’ve learnt the importance of adapting to different people and to different situations and different things and for me. I made it my job to adapt to him‚ because he’s gonna be here the first time and I don’t want him to dumb himself down for me or to change anything about himself when he’s here. I want him to get up there and do the best that he knows he’s capable of and I need to make sure that I bring that out in him.

“This is my first proper baby… this show is the first time I’m putting my stamp onto something‚ where it’s kind of like‚ no matter what happens‚ good or bad‚ I’ll always be remembered as having been on the show.

“But I don’t want to get possessive because this show belongs to Africa – it belongs to the African people. I am an instrument to deliver to them so I always have to get that clear – the way I was raised and the kind of people I surround myself with‚ whatever happens‚ the idea and the dream and the vision is always bigger than me.‚ so‚ yes‚ just like my own child‚ I want it to outdo me.

“[With this show] you get to make your dreams come true on this stage – you get to be the artist you would never be. For one moment and we are all going to pretend that it’s real for you. Not just you‚ by the mirror. We’re giving you an audience‚ we’re giving you the music‚ we’re even gonna give you the props. We’re gonna make it perfect so that you can do it and so that it can be beautiful and entertaining for the people. What more do you need?”