Back in February 1998 she was given 24 to 48 hours to live. Her parents, Reverend Trevor and Eslyne Daniel, were told to call family members and friends so they could say their goodbyes to their first-born child. In an exercise of radical faith, their first response was to call on the name of the Lord. And so they reached out to Barbadians far and near and to friends across the globe, and beseeched their prayers. Those prayers saved their daughter.
That daughter, now Reverend Mya Daniel (Piggott), was 21 years old at the time. Come July 6, Mya will celebrate her 50th birthday, and on the eve of this special day, will stage a huge celebration at the People’s Cathedral, Bishop’s Court Hill, St Michael. It will bring together choirs, gospel artistes and more, as Mya thanks God for the breath of life and her journey through the years.
Sitting down this week with Buzz, Mya, one of Barbados’ top gospel artistes said: “It’s important that I celebrate. When I think of where God has brought me from – which is really from death’s door, and what He has done in my life, I cannot help but celebrate Him and His miraculous power. I cannot celebrate my 50th birthday without celebrating Him. The two are inextricably linked. It is because of Him that I am still here. I have to acknowledge Him and who He is. Having been given back then a maximum of 48 hours to live and making it to 50, I know it is only because of His love, grace and healing power that I am here.”
Representing a unique intersection of spiritual and professional leadership, legal experience, and historic gospel music ministry, Mya is known for her profound strength, grace, and pursuit of excellence. She has built a decades-long legacy of local, regional, and international influence. Whether standing before a court of law, addressing a congregation, or ministering on a global concert stage, her life stands as a testament to purpose, resilience, and faith.
Professionally, she is an accomplished legal practitioner with 22 years of experience. To complement her legal skills, she qualified as a certified professional mediator, utilising her skills to foster reconciliation and balanced counsel in personal, professional and corporate environments, which has proven to be an asset in her managerial position at the Student Revolving Loan Fund.
This former Queen’s College head girl, who has been singing from the age of two, starting at the Kirtons New Testament Church where her dad was pastor, recalled that back in 1998, a year after she had embarked on her law studies at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, she fell ill. At that time, bacteria had entered her bloodstream and was releasing poisonous toxins which were causing her organs to shut down one by one. Concerned people had turned up at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), supposedly, to say their farewells after the news broke. Others huddled together in prayer in various churches and businesses both locally and abroad as the news broke. Mya was hospitalised for six weeks, four of which were spent in the intensive care unit.
Following her miraculous healing, she went on to complete her law degree at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad in 2003, and a year later, married her sweetheart, Robert Piggott. Today Mya is mother to daughter Genesis, who will celebrate her 17th birthday on July 8, two days after that of her mum’s. Following their ordination two years ago, both Mya and her mum assist with pastoral work at Trinity Ministries, where her dad is senior pastor.
Grand idea
As she approaches her 50th birthday, Mya who previously entertained thoughts of becoming a broadcaster, recalls how she had the opportunity at the invitation of the now late veteran broadcaster Vic Brewster, to enjoy a taste of broadcasting behind the scenes. She also spent many years as a voice over in radio and television advertising, thanks to entertainer, Alan Sheppard of Spice & Company, who “discovered her” and launched what eventually became a successful career in that arena. “A few years leading up to my 50th, I had this grand idea of doing something at Kensington Oval. I wanted to invite all my favourite international gospel artistes, but I soon let that go. Along the way, people were telling me I needed to do something. I talked to God and He said that this thanksgiving celebration concert with some of the persons who have been instrumental in my journey is what I should do and that we should “give back.” Once I got that clear instruction from Him, I started the journey. I didn’t have all the details, far less how I was going to pull it off, but we are here.” Mya, who will also take to the stage come Sunday evening, has released several songs over the years. Her debut album, Save The World, was produced in 1994, by Queen’s College teacher Beverly Griffith. Commissioned as an official souvenir for delegates attending the United Nations Global Conference on Sustainable Development hosted in Barbados, the project featured socially-conscious tracks such as “Part of You and Me” and “You Can’t Tell by Looking” an early, vital HIV/AIDS awareness anthem.
She went on to release her second album, With Every Breath: I Testify in 2009. This multi-genre debut solo gospel album brought together the absolute finest of Barbadian musicians and vocalists. It also yielded massive critical acclaim, and its standout track, “I’ve Got to Love Him Back,” was officially awarded Song of the Year at the 2011 Flame Gospel Awards. In addition, the album featured the hit, “ He’ll Bring the Sun,” a collaboration with international reggae-gospel pioneer Stitchie of Jamaica.
A single followed in April 2023, titled, I Am Here. In November that same year she released another single,
Love In A Christmas Way.
Throughout her artistic journey, Mya has been consistently recognised by the public and cultural institutions alike. Her list of accolades includes copping The UWI Campus Queen Pageant, where she was crowned Miss Cave Hill, sweeping the competition and taking home top honours for Best Talent and Best Costume. She also copped The Nation Publishing Cultural Awards Female Vocalist of the Year and Gospel Act of the Year, as well as The Barbados Music Awards’ prestigious Gospel Artist of the Year Award. (CH)