“We Wanted To Represent Honestly” — Josh Bowale On The Lux City Choir, Britain’s Got Talent & African Worship Culture

Following the recent Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals, UK-based Nigerian creative director, producer, and choir arranger Josh Bowale has continued drawing attention for his work with The Lux City Choir – a contemporary choir collective operating across both London and Lagos.

Blending African musical expression, live arrangement, worship culture, and emotionally layered choir presentation, the collective has steadily built a growing audience online through worship medleys, live recordings, African praise expressions, and collaborative musical experiences.

In this conversation, Josh reflects on the choir’s recent BGT appearance, the importance of cultural identity, and the deeper vision behind The Lux City Choir.

Q: How did it feel watching The Lux City Choir step onto the Britain’s Got Talent stage?

Josh Bowale: Honestly, it felt emotional more than anything else. When you think about the journey behind moments like that – the rehearsals, sacrifices, coordination, travel, preparation, and the people connected to the vision, you realize it represents much more than a television performance.

For many of us, it felt like carrying pieces of home onto an international stage.

Q: The performance blended African musical elements with contemporary choir presentation in a very natural way. Was that always the intention?

Josh Bowale: Absolutely! We never wanted African identity to feel like an “addition” to the performance. We wanted it to exist naturally within the arrangement because it’s genuinely part of who we are musically and culturally.

The talking drum, rhythmic textures, vocal energy, and overall presentation all came from a very honest place creatively.

Q: A lot of people online connected deeply with the choir’s authenticity. Why do you think that happened?

Josh Bowale: I think people can sense sincerity. We weren’t trying to imitate anybody else or present ourselves in a way that felt disconnected from our identity. We simply wanted to communicate honestly through music.

And I think many Africans, especially within the diaspora, connected emotionally to seeing elements of home represented confidently on such a visible platform.

Q: Beyond performances, what exactly is The Lux City Choir becoming?

Josh Bowale: It’s becoming a creative and worship community. Of course we care deeply about music and live presentation, but the larger vision is really about people, growth, collaboration, and creating environments where creatives can develop meaningfully.

A lot of younger creatives are looking for spaces where they can express both their artistry and their faith without feeling pressured to compromise either one.

Q: How important is intentionality in your work as a creative director?

Josh Bowale: Very important. I believe details matter because people experience music emotionally, visually, spiritually, and communally all at once.

So whether it’s arrangement, transitions, visuals, atmosphere, choir dynamics, or storytelling, every element contributes to how people experience the moment itself.

Q: What comes next for The Lux City Choir after this season?

Josh Bowale: We’re continuing to build. More music, more live recordings, more worship gatherings, more collaborations, and more opportunities for people to encounter contemporary African worship culture in fresh ways.

We’re also preparing upcoming Lux City Pop-Up Sessions in London and Lagos focused on worship, creativity, community, and collaboration.

At the heart of everything, though, the vision remains simple: to create meaningful experiences rooted in sincerity, culture, worship and excellence. Experiences that bring people hope, joy, connection and a sense of belonging.