Larry Madowo taking over as latest presenter of African Voices Changemakers on CNN International.

by Thinus Ferreira

CNN which is currently going through a global staff reorganisation process has announced that Africa correspondent Larry Madowo will be taking over as the presenter of its long-running weekly African Voices Changemakers magazine show on CNN International (DStv 401).

The Kenyan Larry Madowo based in Nairobi, replaces Nigeria's Arit Okpo who took over hosting duties of the show three and a half years ago in August 2019. 

While the show's format, content and focus have changed over the past 10 years, it continues to interview various trendsetters across Africa to tell inspiring stories.

Larry Madowo's first episode of African Voices Changemakers will be on 25 February in which he will be interviewing and profiling various people across Africa making positive change on the continent.

African Voices Changemakers profiles entertainers, creatives, athletes, and members of the public who are making a difference and impacting their communities through various initiatives and cultural contributions. 

"I’m looking forward to highlighting outstanding stories and incredible people from across the continent and showing the world these remarkable African changemakers. Having featured on the show before joining CNN, this is a full circle moment for me," says Larry Madowo.

Ellana Lee, CNN International senior vice president and global head of features content, says "Larry is a uniquely experienced journalist with enormous energy, expertise, and skill. He is also incredibly passionate about Africa, and I know is excited by the chance to bring its many varied experiences and stories to a global audience through one of CNN’s longest-running and most successful programmes".

"Larry also has a large and highly engaged social following, which presents a great opportunity for us to further interact with our African Voices Changemakers audience, as well as gain new fans for the show."

CNN International revamps and rebrands African Voices to African Voices Changemakers; adds Nigeria's Arit Okpo as new presenter.

CNN International (DStv 401) is revamping and rebranding its longrunning African coverage magazine show African Voices to African Voices Changemakers and adding the Nigerian Arit Okpo as new presenter from 9 August 2019.

The format of African Voices Changemakers is also changing and will now focus on profiling and interviewing so-called "changemakers" within different spheres of influence across the African continent, ranging from entertainers and creatives, to athletes and ordinary members of the public trying to make a difference and impacting their communities in various ways.

Arit Okpo is a Nigerian presenter who previously produced and presented content for the EbonyLife TV channel.

"We look forward to this new era of African Voices and its TV and digital programming that will raise the profile of the continent’s changemakers amongst our international audience," says Zara Driss, account director for CNN International's commercial division, in a statement.