DATELINE DAR ES SALAAM: CNN International's Soni Methu of Inside Africa: 'There's so much beauty, growth, happening right now in Africa.'

The wonderfully friendly, funny, and simply beaming Soni Methu is the new presenter of the weekly magazine show Inside Africa on CNN International (DStv 401).

Following in the footsteps of Isha Sesay and Errol Barnett who presented Inside Africa before her, Soni Methu from Kenya says she simply loves the travelling aspect of the pan-African show, visiting various African countries on a weekly basis and getting to talk to a wide variety of people.

On Saturday TV with Thinus met up with Soni Methu in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a quick chat during her visit to the East African country for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014.


What do you enjoy about being the new presenter and host of the weekly Inside Africa on CNN International?
Soni: So far the best is the travelling across the continent and meeting so many influential people who are making such a huge difference across Africa. So travelling and meeting wonderful people everywhere.


Why do you think that a programme such as Inside Africa is important to be on television, and especially on a globally watched TV news channel like CNN International?
Soni: Well, Inside Africa gives viewers across the world the positive stories about Africa and its people.
Just like everyone's life where it's important to have a "feel good" thing about you, so while the most stories getting coverage is not always very positive, Inside Africa is a show where viewers can see the positive things happening across Africa, that there's so much beauty, growth, development and wonderful talent happening right now in the whole of Africa.
Inside Africa is a weekly passport to that.


You're the next in the line of succession after Isha and Errol and now viewers are seeing you as the face of Inside Africa. For young girls watching you, people seeing you in their homes, and who maybe also want to go into television or become a TV presenter, what advice would you have for them?
Soni: Just be yourself. Don't listen to other people wanting to tell you who you should be or how you should be, or why you should be different. If you are just yourself, if you're true to yourself that's the best thing you can do to join the TV industry and to be good in the industry.
It's good to have someone to admire and to look up to, but stick to who you are.

Soni Methu suddenly takes over as new presenter of weekly magazine show, Inside Africa, on CNN International.

Soni Methu has suddenly taken over as the new presenter of Inside Africa, the weekly magazine show covering the African continent on CNN International (DStv 401), with no word on what has happened to Errol Barnett.

Soni Methu from eNCA (DStv 403) where she was an East African correspondent, replaces Errol Barnett who became the Inside Africa presenter two and a half years ago in January 2012 when he replaced Isha Sesay.

There's been no word from CNN International as to why the replacement took place, what Errol Barnett will no be doing, and why Inside Africa is suddenly changing presenters in the middle of the year. Errol Barnett has been anchoring over weekends from Atlanta the past few months.

Soni Methu will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and from there visit various African countries.

"We're delighted Soni Methu is joining CNN and Inside Africa," says Mike McCarthy, CNN International's senior vice president.

"She brings a wealth of first-hand experience, knowledge and passion for Africa in all its many facets, and will be a real asset to the ongoing development of the show, a cornerstone of CNN International feature programming".

Errol Barnett and Inside Africa on CNN International looking back at 2012 this Friday with a peek of how the weekly show is produced.

The intrepid CNN explorer-newser Errol Barnett and the weekly profile travel-and-country Inside Africa magazine show will take a look back at the best stories and biggest adventures across the African continent in this week's episode on Friday 4 January at 19:30 (South African time) on CNN International (DStv 401) and reveal a bit about how Inside Africa is put together as well.

Errol Barnett took over as the new presenter of Inside Africa on CNN International exactly a year ago in January 2012, and this Friday's episode will be reflecting on the thousands of kilometres he and the production team travelled during the past year.

The episode will also have a sneak peek behind-the-scenes of the CNN show to show viewers how the show is produced and the logistics involved.

The episode will also fill in some of the fascinating backstory behind some of the inserts which was shown on Inside Africa in 2012.

After Friday's episode Inside Africa will repeat on Saturday (5 January) at 13:30 and 20:30, Sunday (6 January) at 06:30, Monday (7 January) at 07:30 and Wednesday 8 January at 10:30.

BREAKING. Isha Sesay joining Ander Cooper 360 on CNN International from Monday.

Isha Sesay from Inside Africa (Saturdays at 14:00; 19:30) on CNN International (DStv 401) is joining another CNN International show, Anderson Cooper 360 from Monday as a news anchor.

Isha Sesay who joined CNN in November 2005 will still continue anchoring and doing inserts for Inside Africa as well as presenting the weekday show International Desk (Mondays to Fridays, 17:00). She now adds AC360 that runs from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 05:00 (South African time) to her work load as well.