Award winning gospel artiste, Asu Ekiye, has lashed out at the Black Entertainment Television network (BET), organisers of the BET Awards, an award scheme established in 2001 to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy, saying the decision to award fellow Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer, Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, in the gospel category at the just concluded awards ceremony, which held at the Los Angeles’s Peacock Theatre, New York, United States on Sunday night, was profoundly insulting.

According to him, the action epitomises a compromise by BET.

“The category, which includes stalwarts such as Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Mary Mary, Maverick City, Naomi Raine and Chandler Moore, should not be one where Tems, a secular artiste, is even considered. The lyrics of the song, Me and You, do not even fit into the conventional gospel mold,” he said.

In a statement issued via his social media handles, the Woekilemo crooner added that the persistent undermining of gospel music by secular influences is alarming, and it is distressing that gospel musicians fail to recognise the magnitude of this conspiracy.

“In Nigeria, the lack of recognition for gospel awards is stark; most gospel artistes often ignore them in favor of secular accolades. This trend underscores a disconcerting disregard for the importance of synergy, deliberation, and collaboration within the gospel music community. It is imperative that we begin to re-evaluate our priorities and support structures to preserve the sanctity and power of gospel music,” Ekiye stated.