Khanyi Mbau, Nadia Nakai face off on Lip Sync Battle Africa

Music In Africa had the opportunity to witness the outcome of the battle but cannot disclose the result until the show premiers tomorrow. In the first episode of the second season, viewers across the African continent will witness Nakai and Mbau engage in a furious battle to earn the winner’s accolade.

In the first round, Mbau, clad in a sassy white fur jacket, enters the stage amid cheering and screaming from the audience. Mbau, who is also a radio personality, pays homage to US platinum-selling trio 702 by performing their hit song ‘Where My Girls At’. Before she takes the microphone, Mbau promises her fans that she will nail the performance. “I will bring up the dead,” she says amid laughter from the fans.

One of the scenes from Khanyi Mbau's second slot in which she performs Lebo’s ‘Brand New’.

Enter Nakai, the ‘Don't Cut It’ hitmaker, dressed in a black unitard as she throws back to ‘90s R&B song ‘Unpretty’ by US group TLC. With a microphone in hand and ready to unleash her lip-syncing talent, Nakai tells the crowd: “I am gonna mess up the stage.”

Amid her performance, Mbau is seen lying down with eyes closed in a bid to undermine Nadia’s performance. At the same time, Nigerian TV presenter and former Lip Sync Battle Africa contestant Denrele Edun takes over the role of commentator, adding his lively observations to the proceedings.

In the second round, Mbau is wearing a faux leather bra and pants and is ready for another battle while Nakai lights up the stage dressed in street party regalia. This time around Mbau and Nakai honour fellow artists by performing their songs. Mbau did Lebo’s ‘Brand New’ while Nakai closed the show with ‘Lahla’ by Busiswa. In this slot, both artists are joined by dancers and are decked out in the most outrageous outfits, wigs and props imaginable.

Nadia Nakai is joined by a group dancers during her final performance.

After the preview, Music In Africa spoke to Nakai. “I had a lot of fun and I didn’t realise it was going to be such a competition and hopefully I will be back for Season 3,” she said.

Speaking to Music In Africa on the sidelines of a photo shoot, BET vice-president Monde Twala said Lip Sync Battle Africa had grown to become a platform where different artists from all corners of Africa could meet and share one stage.

“This show for me goes beyond an entertainment format; it brings Africans together in the true spirit of one Africa,” he said. “What we have done this season is cast the net wider to make sure that we involve talent from across Africa such as Kenya and Nigeria.

“We have tried to spread to different genres including musicians, comedians, actors and many more. It’s also celebrating African talent and bringing them in one format and this show is an amazing vehicle that is able to carry the message across so that we start looking beyond and make it more of a pan-African approach.”

Among the many battles still to come are Da Les vs Kehno, Locnville vs Twins on Decks, Da Les vs Tekno Miles, and DJ Sbu vs DJ Xclusive. Actors Natasha Thahane and Vuyo Dabula will also battle it out.

Founded in April 2016, Lip Sync Battle Africa is the African version of its US counterpart. The original idea was pioneered and hosted by US artists LL Cool J and Chrissy Teigen. The first edition of the African version saw epic battles between celebrities including Nigeria’s Yemi Alade, Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz and South African artists Boity Thulo and Cassper Nyovest.

For more information about Lip Sync Battle Africa, visit the MTV Base official website. The show will also screen on e.tv on Saturday 15 April.