When people talk about influential gospel voices from the UK, Muyiwa Olarewaju is a name that will always come up. A British–Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter, broadcaster and worship leader, Muyiwa has spent decades sharing his passion for gospel music with audiences around the world — not just through recordings, but also through radio, television and live performances.

Muyiwa was born on 26 November in London and spent his early years both in the UK and Nigeria. Gospel music and church life played a central role from a young age, and it became a lifelong inspiration. Over time, he developed a musical style that mixes traditional gospel with influences from world music, including African, Caribbean and Asian rhythms, as well as touches of soul, R&B and pop.

Muyiwa & Riversongz

Muyiwa is best known as the leader of Riversongz, a gospel music group that has made history in several ways. In 2009, he and Riversongz became the first international gospel act to perform on America’s BET channel’s annual Celebration of gospel music.

The group has also sold out major venues in the UK, including Indigo2 at the O2 and Eventim Apollo, making them pioneers among gospel artists in the region. They have performed across Europe, the UK and the United States, and even played at The Experience in Nigeria — one of the largest gospel music events in the world, drawing audiences of over 500,000 people.

Discography

Over the years, Muyiwa & Riversongz have released several albums and live recordings. Some of the notable projects include:

Restoration (2002)

Declaring His Power (2005)

Declaring His Love (2008)

Declaring His Name All Around the World (2011) – a top seller on Amazon’s World Music charts

Live at the Apollo (2012)

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Broadcasting and Media Reach

Beyond singing, Muyiwa is also a respected broadcaster and presenter. For over ten years he hosted flagship radio programmes like Gospel Tonight and Worship Tonight on Premier Gospel, reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners. He has also served as Station Director of Premier Gospel, one of the UK’s leading gospel radio stations.

On television, he has hosted Turning Point, a program with an estimated global audience of 70 million, and other shows like Sounds of Africa on international airlines. He has also served as a celebrity judge on the BBC’s Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year competition.

Honours and Recognition

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to music and culture, Muyiwa was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list — an honour he received from Prince William at Windsor Castle in January 2022. He is also the first gospel artist and African to be given such an honour.

Today, Muyiwa Olarewaju stands as one of the most respected gospel music figures not just in the United Kingdom but all over the world.