Gospel musician Gaise Baba has raised concerns over the categorisation of faith-based music at The Headies, saying gospel artistes should have opportunities to compete for recognition in mainstream categories.
The Afrogospel singer made the remarks in an open letter to the organisers of The Headies published on X on August 28, 2026.
Reflecting on his long involvement in the Nigerian music industry, Gaise Baba said being a gospel artiste should not limit the platforms on which his music can be recognised.
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 the genre or subject of a song should not automatically determine where it can compete, noting that the quality of the music should remain a major consideration.
He said, “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.”
Gaise Baba said restricting songs with religious themes to gospel or inspirational categories could deny them recognition in other relevant areas.
“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.
He also revisited his experience at the last Headies ceremony, where he said the Inspirational Music category was not presented despite having nominees.
Gaise Baba was nominated for Particularly, his collaboration with Tope Alabi, alongside Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Limoblaze.
According to him, his team took part in the activities surrounding the ceremony but waited in vain for the Inspirational category to be announced on stage.
“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 called on The Headies to make room for all announced categories during the ceremony, stressing that nominees deserve public recognition regardless of the genre they represent.
The artiste further questioned why songs dealing with themes such as sexuality can be assessed on their artistic qualities while faith-based works are confined to a narrower space.
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?”
Gaise Baba also cited the popularity and influence of faith-based songs, asking whether recent releases such as Favour and No Turning Back II had not made significant cultural impacts.
He asked, “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 FAVOR or NO TURNING BACK II?”
At the 2026 Headies, Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor’s No Turning Back 2 are among the nominees for Best Inspirational Single, alongside works by Sunmisola Agbebi, Sinach, EmmaOMG and Mercy Chinwo.
