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Award-winning British gospel singer, and BBC One talent show judge, Muyiwa Olarewaju, awarded OBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020.
The BBC One talent show judge, radio host and well renowned singer, Muyiwa Olarewaju, has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020.
He is no stranger to television audiences as he is known to be a vibrant performer and a star of Songs of Praise’s Gospel Choir of the Year. He has been hugely instrumental in popularizing the gospel music genre on a global scale by mixing traditional gospel music with elements from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, with soul, R&B and pop.
Given the honour for his services to music, Muyiwa has brought his unique style to music fans around the world as he’s toured with legends such as Stevie Wonder and Mariah Carey. He has worked alongside superstars Bob Dylan and Lauryn Hill.
The news was published today (Oct 10th) as part of The Birthday Honours List 2020. A delighted Muyiwa, said of being awarded with the OBE:
“I am honoured to be the first in my genre to receive such a wonderful recognition of my work and dedication over such a long period of time.
“I’m incredibly passionate about gospel music and playing a part in the genre reaching as wide an audience as possible.
When you pour your heart into your passions, you do so because you love what you do and want to make an impact in not only your own life, but also the lives of others.
So to be recognized for it as well, especially on such a large scale is a great feeling.”
This year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list was due to be published in June but was postponed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ensure nominations reflected the sacrifice and dedication of hundreds of doctors, nurses, fundraisers and volunteers who this year stepped up in a major way, especially during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Muyiwa added:
“I am so proud to be recognized in the same year as our wonderful frontline and key workers, who went above and beyond during the corona-virus pandemic to serve the nation and are rightly seen as real-life superheroes,” . “Like everyone else, I am grateful for their hard work and sacrifice.”
Muyiwa is the station director of the country’s best known gospel radio station Premier Gospel, which has an audience of 1.3 million listeners nationwide and he presents the popular flagship programmes Gospel Tonight and Worship Tonight to an audience of 500,000.
He has also won numerous awards, including Best Presenter Oasis Awards; Best Radio Show and Best Contribution to Gospel Music at the Gospel Music Awards.
In addition, he is host of the TV show Turning Point, which has an estimated audience of 70 million globally.
With his group Riversongz, Muyiwa has sold out London’s Indigo2 and the Eventim Apollo – the first UK gospel act to do so. He has also played at the largest gospel music event in the world, The Experience, attracting a 500,000 strong audience and is the first-ever international act to perform on America’s popular entertainment channel, BET.
The recognition is indeed a huge deal for Muyiwa, who comes from very humble beginnings, and has worked hard to make it in life, despite hardships.
He says:
“The work I do with my music, radio show and other platforms such as Turning Point all point to hope.
I am a testament of surviving and thriving through difficult times, and I want to help others do the same.”
ABOUT Muyiwa Olarewaju
Muyiwa Olarewaju is a British gospel singer-songwriter, presenter and broadcaster who has been hugely instrumental in helping to popularise the gospel music genre internationally and bringing it to a wider audience.
He was a celebrity judge on BBC Songs of Praise, Gospel Choir of the Year competition alongside Seal and Karen Gibson.
He is the station director of Premier Gospel radio station and host of flagship shows Gospel Tonight and Worship Tonight, to an audience of 500,000 listeners.
He has won numerous awards, including Best Presenter Oasis Awards; Best Radio Show and Best Contribution to Gospel Music at the Gospel Music Awards.
We congratulate him on his OBE Honours!
For more information about Muyiwa Olarewaju, kindly visit his website.
He is currently represented by ONE Management.
