Muyiwa to judge Nigeria's best gospel talents

|PIC1|Britain’s leading gospel artist Muyiwa is set to reach a new and wider audience following his new appointment as judge on Sunday Best, the hit TV show which brings new gospel talent to the fore.

The show was first screened in the US in 2008 by its creators leading black TV network, Black Entertainment Television (BET).

Muyiwa will join the panel of judges for the third series, which will include gospel superstar Donnie McClurkin and presenter Grammy Award winning artist Kirk Franklin, when they travel to Nigeria in their search for new artists.

Muyiwa sits alongside them giving his verdict on the up and coming Nigerian gospel talent set to attend the nationwide auditions in the hope of getting TV exposure and winning a record deal.

The Nigerian gospel artist deemed to be the best by the judges will be flown out to America to take part in the Sunday Best final and compete alongside the other finalists for the prize of a recording contract with a major label.

Muyiwa’s appointment as a judge on Sunday Best is the second major project he has undertaken with the international BET TV network. Last year he became the first UK gospel artist and International artist to appear on BET’s popular Celebration of Gospel show, which was broadcast in the US, UK and Europe and Africa.

He commented, “I feel honoured that BET has asked me to be a judge on Sunday Best, a show which is broadcast throughout the world. It’s exciting to play a part in discovering new artists. I am looking forward to hearing the abundance of gospel talent that exists in Nigeria, and playing a part in shaping and honing that talent in front of a TV audience.”

Ava L Hall, Vice President, Programming & Production stated, “As head of programming and production for BET International, finding opportunities to connect great talent within the diaspora is key for engaging our global viewers and building a global community.

"We’ve worked with Muyiwa previously and it was a great experience for BET, and our viewers both domestically and internationally…and there was no hesitation to partner with him again for the Sunday Best Nigeria audition. The BET platform reaches over 100 million households around the world—so a partnership like this is just a win-win for everyone.”

Muyiwa will fly out to begin filming for Sunday Best this week. Whilst in the country he will also host The Experience - The World’s Largest Gospel Concert’. Some of the genre’s major artists are set to gather in Lagos, Nigeria to perform in front of a crowd that will number approximately 400,000.

2010 is also looking bright for Britain’s brightest gospel talent. Muyiwa and Riversongz will appear as themselves in four episodes of a new US TV show My Parents, My Sister & Me, which will be broadcast on the ABC network.