The Headies organisers have rejected claims that the awards sideline gospel artistes from major categories, saying faith-based musicians remain eligible to compete for mainstream honours.
The organisers responded to an open letter by Nigerian gospel artiste Gaise Baba. He accused the awards of placing faith-based records in separate categories instead of recognising them among major honours.
Gaise Baba also claimed that the Headies nominated him for the Inspirational Music category in 2024. However, he said the organisers did not publicly announce or present the winner on stage.
Headies cites past winners
In a statement shared on its official Instagram handle, the Headies said its history does not support claims that gospel artistes face exclusion.
“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 statement reads.
The organisers pointed to artistes such as Lara George, Kefee, Nikki Laoye and Timi Dakolo as examples of gospel musicians who have competed in mainstream categories.
Lara George earned a nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance in 2008 for ‘Ijoba Orun’. She later won the category in 2010 with ‘Keeper of My Dreams’.
Kefee won Best Collaboration in 2010 alongside Timaya for ‘Kokoroko’. The song also received nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Single, Best Female Vocal Performance and Best Music Video.
The Headies also cited Timi Dakolo’s 2010 Recording of the Year win for ‘Heaven Please’. He later won three awards in 2015 for ‘Wish Me Well’.
Nikki Laoye won Best Vocal Performance (Female) in 2013 for ‘Only You’.
“Gospel and inspirational artists have not merely been nominated. They have won major general categories against the strongest mainstream competition of their time,” the statement reads.
Why the inspirational category exists
The organisers also defended the Best Inspirational Single category, which they introduced at the 15th Headies in 2022.
“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 reads in part.
Kcee and Okwesili Eze Group won the category in 2022 for ‘Cultural Praise’. Neon Adejo followed in 2023 with ‘Eze Ebube’, while Mercy Chinwo won in 2025 for ‘You Do This One’.
The organisers also noted that Dunsin Oyekan, Limoblaze, Tope Alabi and Anendlessocean have received nominations in the category.
Headies explains unannounced categories
The Headies said failure to make the final nominees’ list does not amount to deliberate exclusion.
According to the organisers, each category receives an average of 50 eligible entries. The academy then reduces the entries to about six nominees.
The awards organisers also explained why some categories do not appear during the live broadcast.
The Headies has expanded from about 22 categories in its earlier years to 35. As a result, the organisers said they cannot present every category during the live ceremony because of time limits.
They now use a category 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 reads.
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