The organisers of the Headies Awards have dismissed claims that gospel artistes are deliberately sidelined from major award categories, insisting that faith-based musicians have competed for and won mainstream honours over the years.
The organisers were responding to an open letter by Nigerian gospel singer Gaise Baba, who accused the awards platform of restricting gospel and inspirational artistes to separate categories rather than allowing them to compete for top general awards.
Gaise Baba also raised concerns over the Inspirational Music category, claiming that although he received a nomination after the category was introduced, its winner was neither publicly announced nor presented on stage.
In a statement shared via its official Instagram page, the Headies said its history did not support allegations of deliberate exclusion of gospel artistes from major categories.
“Every award season, the same claim resurfaces: ‘The Headies doesn’t recognise gospel artists. Inspirational music is shut out of the real categories.’ It sounds provocative. It travels fast. But the record says otherwise – and the record is verifiable,” the organisers said.
The awards body pointed to several gospel and inspirational artistes, including Lara George, Kefee, Nikki Laoye and Timi Dakolo, who have received nominations and won awards in mainstream categories.
According to the organisers, Lara George earned a nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance in 2008 for ‘Ijoba Orun’ before winning the same category in 2010 with ‘Keeper of My Dreams’.
Kefee and Timaya won Best Collaboration in 2010 for ‘Kokoroko’, while the song also received nominations in categories including Song of the Year, Best Pop Single, Best Female Vocal Performance and Best Music Video.
The Headies further highlighted Timi Dakolo’s success, noting that he won Recording of the Year in 2010 for ‘Heaven Please’ and claimed three awards in 2015 for ‘Wish Me Well’.
Nikki Laoye was also recognised as the winner of Best Vocal Performance (Female) in 2013 for her song, ‘Only You’.
The organisers said these achievements showed that gospel and inspirational musicians had historically competed beyond categories specifically dedicated to faith-based music.
“Gospel and inspirational artists have not merely been nominated. They have won major general categories against the strongest mainstream competition of their time,” the organisers said.
Addressing concerns about the Inspirational Music category, the Headies explained that the category was introduced during the 15th edition in 2022 to increase recognition and visibility for gospel and inspirational artistes, rather than isolate them from mainstream competition.
“Best Inspirational Single, introduced at the 15th Headies in 2022, was not created to put gospel music in a box. It was created to give more gospel and inspirational artists a guaranteed place on the Headies stage,” the statement read.
The organisers said Kcee and Okwesili Eze Group won the category in 2022 with ‘Cultural Praise’, while Neon Adejo emerged winner in 2023 for ‘Eze Ebube’. Mercy Chinwo later won in 2025 with ‘You Do This One’.
Other artistes, including Dunsin Oyekan, Limoblaze, Tope Alabi and Anendlessocean, have also received nominations in the category.
The Headies also rejected suggestions that artistes who fail to make the final shortlist are deliberately excluded, explaining that each category receives an average of 50 eligible entries which are reviewed by the academy before being reduced to about six nominees.
On concerns surrounding awards not presented during the live ceremony, the organisers said the increasing number of categories had made it difficult to announce every winner on stage.
According to the Headies, the number of categories has grown from about 22 in its early years to 35, leading to the adoption of a rotation system for categories excluded from the live broadcast at certain editions.
The organisers said Inspirational Music is among the categories affected by the rotation system.
“Inspirational music is part of that rotation. That is not disregard. It is how a growing awards platform manages a growing number of categories,” the statement said.
The 2026 edition of the Headies, with the theme ‘Africa to the World’, is scheduled to hold on October 25 in Toronto, Canada.
