Gospel singer Gaise Baba has expressed displeasure over the alleged degradation of faith-based artistes at The Headies awards.

In a letter posted on his Instagram page, the ‘No Turning Back’ hitmaker recalled his first attendance at The Headies on October 20, 2012, adding that “I’ve been in the industry for just over two years”. 

In the letter, Gaise Baba said The Headies award has relegated gospel records to isolated categories rather than considering them on their artistic merit.

The singer also recalled 2024, when he was nominated for the newly introduced Inspirational Music category, but the winner was not publicly announced or put on stage.

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

Gaise Baba said despite being the “biggest, most active, and most recognised music award out of Nigeria,” organisers of The Headies needed to function better.

The singer also recalled 2024, when he was nominated for the newly introduced Inspirational Music category, but the winner was not publicly announced or put on stage.

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

“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 to gospel songs.

This is not the first time Gaise Baba has aired his views over gospel music categorisation. In July, the singer called for a reevaluation of how gospel music is classified.

He had argued that gospel music should be considered a message rather than a distinct musical genre.