Gaise Baba challenges Headies over exclusion of gospel music from major categories
Gospel artiste Gaise Baba of “No Turning Back” fame has criticised the organisers of The Headies over what he described as the marginalisation of faith-based music in mainstream award categories.
In an open letter dated Aug. 28, 2026, the singer called for gospel and faith-based songs to be assessed in mainstream categories based on their quality, craft and impact rather than their subject matter.
Gaise Baba, who describes himself as an Afrogospel artiste, said he had been active in the Nigerian music industry for more than 15 years and was therefore entitled to comment on the direction of the awards.
“As a faith-based artiste, or gospel as it is more commonly called, I have always had an outlook of not being limited in expression or restricted to only religious gatherings; I will engage across the length and breadth of the industry within which I play, in this case, the Music Industry,” he said.
He argued that a song should be classified according to its musical craft rather than the subject it addresses.
“A rap record is a rap record. It does not stop being rap because of what the artiste chose to rap about. Whether the record is about money, fame, sex, debauchery, or faith, the craft, pen game, cadence, delivery, and the flow are what make it a rap record, not the subject matter,” he said.
The singer said restricting faith-based songs to inspirational categories could prevent them from competing for recognition in other relevant categories.
“A rap song with gospel content, considered only within ‘gospel’ or ‘inspirational’ categories and never as ‘rap’, is being quietly removed from a conversation it has every right to be part of,” he added.
The 18th edition of The Headies is scheduled to hold on Oct. 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, with nominees across 35 categories.
Gaise Baba acknowledged the introduction of the Inspirational category in 2022 but expressed concern over its treatment at the previous edition.
He was nominated in the category alongside Tope Alabi, Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Limoblaze.
According to the singer, his team attended all the pre-award activities, but the Inspirational category was not presented on stage.
He described the omission as a disregard for the nominated artistes and other creatives whose categories were also not presented during the ceremony, which he said lasted more than five hours.
“The Inspirational category wasn’t the only one left uncalled; the same disregard applies to every other category affected. Thirty categories can be called on a night that stretched beyond five hours,” he said.
Gaise Baba urged the organisers to ensure that every category announced for the awards receives stage recognition.
He also questioned what he described as a difference in the treatment of songs dealing with sexual themes and those centred on faith.
“If a song that explores sexual desire and the objectification of a woman’s body is celebrated for its artistic value and allowed full sway in the industry’s ocean, why should the one on faith be restricted to an aquarium?” he asked.
The artiste further pointed to the cultural reach of gospel songs, citing ‘Favour’ and ‘No Turning Back II’ as examples.
He asked how many songs released during the year under review had achieved a greater cultural impact across Nigeria and beyond than the two records.
For the 2026 edition, Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s ‘No Turning Back 2’ are nominated for Best Inspirational Single alongside works by Sunmisola Agbebi, Lawrence Oyor, Sinach, EmmaOMG and Mercy Chinwo.
