In September 2019, Josh Bowale held one of the last major concerts of his early creative journey before stepping away from public music work for a period that would quietly reshape the direction of his life. Years later, now based in the United Kingdom after relocating from Nigeria, the choir director, arranger and producer has re-emerged at the centre of one of the most distinctive African-led choir movements currently growing across the UK and Nigeria.
What began as a small choir vision has evolved into The Lux City Choir – a cross-continental creative collective blending African musical identity, contemporary choir culture, live production, worship and community-building into a modern diaspora experience. Earlier this year, mainstream British audiences encountered that vision on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent, where The Lux City Choir’s gospel-infused reinterpretation of “Higher Love” earned a standing ovation and progressed to the semi-finals. Their later semi-final performance of “The Climb” expanded that visibility further.
Incorporating African percussion, choir arrangements and Yoruba rhythmic influences, the performance reflected Josh’s wider creative philosophy: presenting African musical identity on global platforms without reducing it to spectacle. The inclusion of traditional rhythmic textures and visual references to African identity became one of the most discussed aspects of the performance online.
But long before national television, there had already been years of groundwork. From recording sessions in Lagos to late-night rehearsals in London after full workdays, Josh had been building something designed not simply around performance, but around people. “We are trying to build spaces where people can encounter hope, joy, excellence, faith, creativity and community all at once,” he says. “Sometimes music becomes more than entertainment. It becomes healing. It becomes belonging.”
That philosophy now sits at the centre of The Lux City Choir’s identity. Operating across both Nigeria and the UK, the choir brings together healthcare workers, students, finance professionals, engineers, musicians and young creatives from across the African diaspora. For many members, it has become more than an artistic outlet. “It became family very quickly,” one choir member says. “There’s a level of intentionality and care here that people are genuinely searching for.”
That sense of community reflects a wider cultural shift among younger Africans in Britain, where faith-based creative spaces are increasingly functioning as hubs for identity, collaboration and emotional connection. Josh believes the shift points to something larger. “African creatives are no longer waiting for permission to build meaningful things,” he says. “There’s a generation creating its own platforms, systems and communities while still staying connected to culture and faith.”
That vision extends beyond choir rehearsals. Through Lux City Music, Studio26 and ECHOES (his live worship and recording platform) operating across Lagos and London, Josh has spent recent years building a wider creative infrastructure around music production, live experiences, artist development and mentorship. For Josh, the goal has never been simply to imitate existing gospel structures, but to rethink what an African choir platform can look like in a global context.
“We grew up seeing excellence in African churches and choirs long before the world started paying attention to African music,” he says. “Now we have an opportunity to present those sounds and experiences globally without diluting who we are.” That pursuit of excellence is deeply personal. “I’ve always believed that Christians and believers should represent excellence well,” Josh says. “If we truly believe we are representing the greatest Creator of all, then our work should reflect care, depth, discipline and beauty. Faith should never become an excuse for mediocrity.”
That balance between cultural authenticity, spiritual depth and modern presentation has become one of the defining characteristics of The Lux City Choir, whose performances regularly fuse choir harmonies, African musical influences, cinematic staging and contemporary live production. Yet despite the growing visibility, Josh remains focused on sustainability over virality. “We are not just trying to create moments,” he says. “We are trying to build something that genuinely impacts people, creates opportunities for creatives and leaves behind meaningful cultural infrastructure.”
At a time when African influence continues to reshape global culture, The Lux City Choir represents a different side of that story; one rooted not only in performance, but in community, identity and long-term creative vision. Whether through Britain’s Got Talent, live recordings in Lagos or worship gatherings in London, Josh’s work reflects a broader shift taking place across the diaspora: African creatives building global-facing cultural platforms on their own terms while remaining deeply connected to where they come from. And increasingly, audiences far beyond church spaces – from mainstream television viewers to diaspora communities and cultural institutions – are beginning to pay attention.
