Nigerian Afrogospel artist Gaise Baba has publicly urged the organizers of The Headies music awards to reconsider how faith-based music is categorized and celebrated, saying the current approach risks sidelining the genre and its creators. In an open letter addressed to the awards’ organizing committee and its founder, Ayo Animashaun, the singer framed his appeal not as an outsider’s critique but as a call from someone who has long been part of the awards’ ecosystem.
A Long Relationship with the Awards
Gaise Baba recalled that his first Headies attendance was on October 20, 2012, a time when he had been in the industry for just over two years and had recently released what he described as his biggest song at that point, “Follow Follow.” Despite the criticism the awards have faced from artists and fans over the years, he acknowledged that The Headies remains Nigeria’s largest, most active, and most recognized music awards platform, which is why he believes it is important for the institution to function effectively.
“This letter is not a complaint from the outside. It is a push from someone within, who wants to see the institution function better,” he wrote, asking the organizers to receive his concerns in good faith.
The Core Argument: Artistry Over Subject Matter
At the heart of Gaise Baba’s letter is a belief that gospel artists should not be confined to religious gatherings or isolated categories. He argued that music should be judged primarily on its artistic qualities, not the subject matter an artist chooses to explore.
“A rap record is a rap record,” he stated, explaining that whether a song deals with money, fame, sex, debauchery, or faith, its craft, pen game, cadence, delivery, and flow should determine its classification and recognition. In his view, a rap song with gospel content should not automatically be removed from the rap conversation and placed exclusively under “gospel” or “inspirational” categories.
A Personal Experience at the Last Edition
Gaise Baba noted that The Headies introduced the Inspirational category in 2022, which he described as a positive step that formally created space for faith-based records. However, his experience as a nominee in the most recent edition prompted him to raise further concerns.
He was nominated in the Inspirational Music category for his 2024 song “Particularly,” featuring Tope Alabi. According to his account, the category had five nominees: Anendlessocean, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan, Limoblaze, and himself. His team participated fully in the awards activities, including media rounds and the pre-award reception. He attended the ceremony alongside veteran producer ID Cabasa, while Anendlessocean was also present. Limoblaze, he noted, could not attend because he is now based outside Nigeria.
Despite the presence of nominees, the Inspirational Music category was not called on stage, and the award was not presented during the ceremony. “To me, that is disregard to the creatives involved,” he said, while acknowledging that the Inspirational category was not the only one affected, as several other categories were also left uncalled.
He argued that with adequate planning, all categories could be accommodated during an awards ceremony that lasted more than five hours, stressing that every nominee deserves to have their category recognized publicly.
Drawing Parallels with the Grammys
Gaise Baba also referenced the criticism that followed the Grammy Awards when an African category was not called on stage. He said the concerns raised by African artists at the time were valid and should equally apply to The Headies.
Questioning the Double Standard
The singer questioned why songs centered on subjects such as sexual desire and the objectification of women could be celebrated for their artistic value and allowed to compete freely across the music industry, while songs centered on faith are confined to a narrower category.
“Why should the one on faith be restricted to an aquarium?” he asked, arguing that faith-based music should be assessed on its artistic merit rather than being separated because of its message.
A Challenge to the Industry
Gaise Baba ended his letter by challenging the organizers and the wider public to consider the cultural impact of contemporary faith-based records. He specifically mentioned “FAVOR” and “NO TURNING BACK II,” asking how many songs released during the current year under review have had a greater cultural impact across Nigeria and beyond.
“Shall we count?” he asked.
The letter raises a broader question that extends beyond The Headies: as faith-based music continues to grow in popularity and crossover appeal, how should award shows adapt their categories and presentation to reflect that reality? Gaise Baba’s push is not just about one category or one ceremony—it is about whether the industry’s recognition structures are keeping pace with the music itself.
Source: Gaise Baba tackles Headies over perceived sidelining of faith-based music