Gaise Baba Challenges The Headies’ Gospel Divide: ‘Judge the Music, Not the Message’

Afrogospel artiste Gaise Baba has challenged The Headies over what he considers the limited recognition given to faith-based music within Nigeria’s mainstream music awards.

In an open letter to the organisers dated August 28, 2026, the singer argued that gospel and faith-based artistes should not be confined to religious or inspirational categories when their work meets the artistic standards of other music genres.

Gaise Baba, who said he has spent more than 15 years in the Nigerian music industry, maintained that faith-based artistes should be allowed to compete across the industry rather than being defined solely by the themes of their songs.

“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,” he said.

At the centre of his argument is the distinction between a song’s subject matter and its musical craft.

Using rap as an example, Gaise Baba said a rap song does not cease to be rap because of what its lyrics discuss. He argued that elements such as songwriting, cadence, delivery, flow and overall artistry should determine how a record is judged.

“A rap record is a rap record. It does not stop being rap because of what the artiste chose to rap about,” he said.

He questioned why a song addressing faith should be restricted to an inspirational category when records exploring other themes are considered for recognition based on their artistic value.

“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.

‘Why should faith music be restricted?’

Gaise Baba acknowledged that The Headies’ introduction of an Inspirational category in 2022 was a step in the right direction.

However, he expressed dissatisfaction with how the category was handled at the previous edition of the awards.

The artiste was nominated in the Inspirational category alongside Tope Alabi, Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Limoblaze.

According to him, his team participated in the activities leading up to the ceremony, only for the category not to be presented on stage.

He said the omission was not limited to the Inspirational category, noting that several other categories were also not called during an awards ceremony that lasted more than five hours.

“The Inspirational category wasn’t the only one left uncalled; the same disregard applies to every other category affected,” he said.

He urged The Headies organisers to ensure that every announced category receives recognition during the ceremony, particularly when nominees and their teams have participated in the events surrounding the awards.

Gaise Baba also questioned what he described as an inconsistency in how songs are assessed within the industry.

“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.

Gaise Baba points to ‘Favour’, ‘No Turning Back II’

The singer further challenged industry stakeholders to consider the cultural reach and influence of faith-based records.

He specifically referenced “Favour” and “No Turning Back II”, asking whether many songs released during the period under review had achieved comparable cultural impact across Nigeria and beyond.

“How many records released in the current year under review have had a greater ‘cultural impact’, across the length and breadth of this country and maybe even beyond, than FAVOUR or NO TURNING BACK II?” he asked.

For the 2026 edition of The Headies, Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s “No Turning Back II” is nominated for Best Inspirational Single alongside works involving Sunmisola Agbebi, Sinach, EmmaOMG and Mercy Chinwo.

The 18th Headies is scheduled to hold on October 25, 2026, in Toronto, Canada, with nominees competing across 35 categories.

Gaise Baba’s intervention has therefore placed a broader question before the Nigerian music industry: whether faith-based records should primarily be recognised for their religious themes or assessed alongside other music on the strength of their craft, reach and cultural impact.