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BLESSED: Sounds of New Wine with their award

MORE THAN 1,000 people gathered in London last weekend for the highly anticipated fourth edition of the Premier Gospel Awards.

The sold out event was attended by seasoned stars such as Guvna B who picked up Best Album and Best Song for Cast Your Cares, and Becca Folkes, who won the award for Best Female.

PICTURED: Ibe Otah and Cassie Lokko on stage (Photo: Isabelle Weerwardena -Odusanwo Photography/lmisix)

RISING
The awards ceremony on May 11 also provided a coveted platform to rising stars such as Shekinah, who won Best Group. And the Kingdom Choir, who have become household names since performing at the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last year, won Best choir.

CEREMONY: Muyiwa Olarewaju speaks on the night (Photo: Isabelle Weerwardena -Odusanwo Photography/lmisix)

Muyiwa Olarewaju, station director of Premier Gospel described the awards night as a great success.

“It’s a joy to champion the grass - roots as we do and see the BBC, The Voice and the MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin), pick them up as they have done,” he said.

He added: “Premier Gospel is at the heart of the future of UK Gospel.” Some of the biggest names in the Gospel music industry, including Belgian Afrobeats gospel singer Amanda Malela, flew in to join the event at the Oasis House in Croydon, as did three-time Grammy-nominated US gospel singer Anita Wilson.

PERFORMANCE: US star Anita Wilson (Photo: Isabelle Weerwardena -Odusanwo Photography/lmisix)

When she performed, she told the audience she felt very much at home.

NERVOUS
“I often get nervous when I travel out of the country for whatever reason but coming to London does feel like home,” she explained.

“You guys play a great big part in that because Premier always puts its arms around me. “Even when I’m at home, I’m looking at tweets every morning, Yinka’s tagging me and playing my music and people are retweeting and that makes me feel good.”

BEST FEMALE: Becca Folkes (Photo: Isabelle Weerwardena -Odusanwo Photography/lmisix)

Premier Gospel listeners voted for the Nigerian artist Limoblaze to win the Best International award and Sounds of New Wine, who won the Best Newcomer award, delivered a powerful and uplifting performance, to round off a night of celebration.

Sponsors at this year’s Premier Gospel Awards included the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Pentecostal Credit Union, Croydon Fostering Service and Coram.

The award winners in full...
Best Male – CalledOut Music
Best Female – Becca Folkes
Best Song – Cast Your Cares – Guvna B and the Kingdom Choir Best Group – Shekinah
Best album – These Hands Are Made For Working by Guvna B
Choir of the Year – The Kingdom Choir
Best Video – CalledOut Music – Love Around Best International artist –Limoblaze
Best Newcomer – Sounds of New Wine

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