Gospel singer, Gaise Baba, has called out The Headies for what he sees as neglecting gospel music in major award categories. He believes that gospel artists should be judged based on the quality and impact of their music, just like other artists.
Gaise Baba shared his thoughts in an open letter on X to The Headies organizers on August 28, 2026. He reflected on his experience as a nominee at the awards.
The 18th Headies will take place in Toronto, Canada, on October 25, 2026. The event features nominees in 35 categories, with Afrobeats artists dominating many of the top categories.
Gaise Baba, who sees himself as a key voice in Afrogospel, mentioned he has been part of the Nigerian music scene for over 15 years. He feels he has a right to discuss the direction of the awards.
He said, “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 argued that faith-based music should not just fit into an inspirational category but should also compete in mainstream categories based on its artistic value.
Gaise Baba stated, “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 makes it a rap record, not the subject matter.”
He emphasized that music with faith-based messages should be judged on the same level as other music forms.
“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 said.
Gaise Baba remembered that The Headies introduced the Inspirational category in 2022, calling it a good step that recognized faith-based music.
But he expressed disappointment after the last awards show when the Inspirational Music category was not presented on stage.
He was nominated in this category for his song "Particularly," featuring Tope Alabi, alongside Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan, and Limoblaze.
Gaise Baba shared that his team took part in media events, a pre-award reception, and the awards night, but the category was not mentioned during the ceremony.
He described this as disrespectful to the artists nominated in that category.
He said, “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 urged the organizers to give enough time for every announced category to be presented, saying that all nominees deserve recognition.
Gaise Baba also questioned why songs with other themes get to compete based on artistic value while faith-based songs are limited to an inspirational category.
He asked, “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 challenged music industry players and the public to think about the cultural impact of faith-based songs, mentioning Favour and No Turning Back II.
He questioned, “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?”
For the 2026 Headies, Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s No Turning Back 2 is one of the six nominees for Best Inspirational Single, competing against songs by Sunmisola Agbebi, Lawrence Oyor, Sinach, EmmaOMG, and Mercy Chinwo.
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