Gospel singer Gaise Baba has condemned the alleged “disregard” for faith-based artistes at The Headies awards.

The ‘No Turning Back’ hitmaker also questioned how the awards recognise and classify gospel music.

Gaise Baba recalls Headies experience

In a letter posted on his Instagram page, Gaise Baba recalled attending The Headies for the first time on October 20, 2012.

He said he had been in the music industry for just over two years at the time.

Gaise Baba said The Headies has relegated gospel records to isolated categories instead of judging them on their artistic merit.

“I’ve been an active professional in this space for a long time, and as one of the leading voices in Afrogospel today, I have the grounds to have a say,” he wrote.

The singer described The Headies as the “biggest, most active, and most recognised music award out of Nigeria”.

However, he said the organisers need to improve how they recognise creatives.

Singer faults 2024 award presentation

Gaise Baba also recalled the 2024 edition of The Headies.

He was nominated for the newly introduced Inspirational Music category that year.

According to the singer, the organisers did not publicly announce the winner or present the award on stage.

“That, to me, is disregard for the creatives involved,” he wrote.

Gaise Baba said every announced category deserves proper recognition during the ceremony.

“If categories have been announced with creatives nominated in each, then time should be allocated in planning for every category to be called on the night, on stage, in full view,” he wrote.

He questions gospel music classification

The singer also questioned why gospel music should sit in isolated categories.

He argued that faith-based records should compete alongside mainstream music based on their artistic qualities.

“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 make it a rap record, not the subject matter,” the letter added.

Gaise Baba also questioned the cultural impact of records recognised at the awards compared with gospel songs.

His latest comments come after he called for a reevaluation of gospel music classification in July.

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