While speculation ran high that the South Africa comedian Trevor Noah - a nominee in the Personality of the Year category - would likely host before his scheduled take-over of The Daily Show on sister channel Comedy Central (DStv 122) in September, his diary in preparation of taking over the reigns didn't permit it and Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) settled on another American for the African show.
Last year the American comedian Marlon Wayans hosted the 2014 MTV Africa Music Awards, with VIMN Africa which came in for criticism - despite Wayans' valiant and well-received effort - about not choosing African hosts for an awards show which aims to celebrate African music and entertainment industry excellence.
Anthony Anderson is currently in the American sitcom Black-ish seen on M-Net's VUZU AMP (DStv 114) and is doing a cooking show Eating America with Anthony Anderson. He was the co-host of the BET Awards 2015 in Los Angeles.
"I'm so looking forward to my first trip to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal and honoured to be hosting the 2015 MAMAs. It's going to be awesome," says Anthony Anderson in a released statement.
"Anthony Anderson is guaranteed to make the 2015 MAMAs a memorable event thanks to his unique comedic presence and boundless energy," says Alex Okosi, the senior vice president and managing director of VIMN Africa in the statement.
The 2015 MTV Africa Music Awards is a made-for-TV awards show and will be broadcast live on MTV Base, MTV (DStv 130) and BET (DStv 129) on Saturday at 21:00, and from 18 July on BET International (StarSat 167) on StarSat.
A MAMA-themed special will be shown worldwide on MTV channels on 27 August.
Some of the performers at the 2015 MAMAs include 2FACE, AKA, Big Nuz, Cassper Nyovest, Da LES, Davido, Diamond Platnumz, DJ Tira, Toofan, Wizkid, Yemi Alade, DJ Fisherman, Black Motion and Bucie.
