Soni Methu new host of Inside Africa

Soni Methu named new host for CNN International’s Inside Africa

In her new role, Methu will present from countries across the continent to take viewers on a journey through Africa, exploring the true diversity and depth of different cultures, countries and regions.

Methu's first journey began on Friday, 1 August in the southern part of a country known for its friendly people as the "Warm Heart of Africa", Malawi. Here, Methu and the team meet a traditional healer developing herbal remedies in a rural village and learn from locals how to prepare Nsima, a staple food in Malawi. She also visits the Liwonde National Park where she finds abundant populations of elephants and birds along the Shire River. The programme concludes with a trip to Lake Malawi, home to many species of fish found nowhere else in the world.

Previous experience

Methu was East Africa correspondent for ENCA and E News Africa for two years, reporting from hotspots Mombasa and Nairobi, including covering the Westgate Mall terrorist attack. During her career with ENCA she also reported from Somalia, South Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, and was central to breaking key stories for the channel.

Methu, who will be based in CNN's Nairobi bureau, revealed her excitement about the move: "What an honour and privilege this opportunity is, to be at the forefront of telling positive, uplifting African stories to CNN's worldwide audience. I can't imagine a better role than to show the beauty of Africa."

Mike McCarthy, Senior Vice President at CNN International, said: "We're delighted Soni is joining CNN and 'Inside Africa'. 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."