MTV base has revealed the final lineup for MTV base Uncensored, the lively new 16-week TV series which aims to get young Africans talking candidly about love, sex and emotions. Joining previously announced Sizwe Dhlomo as presenters of MTV base Uncensored will be Nigerian ‘roving reporter’ Onitiri Ibironke, as well as South African kwaito star and sexual rights campaigner Andile Carelse. All three will feature regularly on MTV base Uncensored, which starts airing on MTV base (DStv Channel 88) on the 4th of May.

Andile, a Johannesburg-born musician and activist will act as the relationship counsellor on MTV base Uncensored, breaking through the miasma of mis-information and silence surrounding ‘life issues’ such as dating, sexuality, machismo, STIs and love. Providing advice and information to young Africans struggling with the issues of growing up, Andile will draw on her own experience as the creator of South Africa’s groundbreaking ‘Open Disclosure Programme’, aimed at achieving far-reaching societal change regarding sexual violence in South Africa. Intrepid Andile has spent many years counselling the victims of rape and sexual violence, following her own history of sexual abuse, including her rape at the age of 11 by her father.

Nigerian presenter Onitiri Ibironke, 25, is a Lagos-born microbiology graduate turned fashion designer who gets her first showbiz break with MTV base. Onitiri will act as the roving ‘field reporter’ for MTV base Uncensored, visiting countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa to film clips, links and interviews for the show. Her role will involve travelling to countries across the continent, talking to students and young people to find out their personal stories, and taping questions and comments to put to Andile back in the studio. In each location, Onitiri will also interview top African music stars, discussing and examining their own personal views and observations on the topics under discussion.


Andile and Onitiri join Sizwe Dhlomo as the three ‘faces’ of ‘MTV base Uncensored’. Dhlomo, the former computer programmer turned TV presenter takes the complex role of studio ‘anchor’, smoothly bringing together the studio action, field reporting, and interviews and DJ sets with weekly guest stars. Twenty-two year old South African Sizwe has a host of TV experience, formerly fronting a weekly music TV show on SABC1 and interviewing a multitude of African and international stars including Akon, Pro-kid, Bricks, Stoan and Jah Seed.

MTV base Uncensored will air weekly across Africa on MTV base via the DStv pay-TV bouquet (DStv Channel 88) from Thursday 4 May at 21:00 CAT.

‘MTV base Uncensored’ is produced in association with Staying Alive, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and Family Health International’s YouthNet as part of their efforts to disseminate positive messages about HIV & AIDS and reproductive health issues among young people.