The Headies gospel controversy has taken a new turn after organisers of Nigeria’s biggest music awards rejected claims that gospel and inspirational artistes are deliberately kept out of the show’s major categories.
The response came after Afrogospel singer Gaise Baba questioned the treatment of faith-based music in an open letter. He argued that gospel artistes should be judged on songwriting, sound, creativity and impact rather than being restricted to an Inspirational category.
The dispute is now less about whether gospel music has a place at The Headies and more about what counts as mainstream music in Nigeria’s biggest awards conversation.
The Headies Point to Its Own History
In responding to the criticism, The Headies highlighted several gospel artistes at The Headies who have competed successfully outside faith-specific categories.
The organisers cited Lara George, Kefee, Nikki Laoye and Timi Dakolo as examples. Kefee, for instance, won Best Collaboration with Timaya in 2010, while Timi Dakolo won Recording of the Year for “Heaven Please” that same year. Nikki Laoye also won Best Vocal Performance Female in 2013.
The Headies argues that these examples make it difficult to claim that gospel musicians are automatically excluded from Headies major categories.
The organisers also pointed to the Inspirational Music category, introduced in 2022, saying it was created to guarantee recognition for faith-based music rather than to place gospel music in a box.
But Gaise Baba’s Argument Is About More Than Nominations
Gaise Baba’s criticism raises a different question. His argument is that a song should be judged according to its artistic quality and genre rather than its religious message. In other words, a gospel-inspired rap song should still be able to compete in Best Rap Single if it meets the criteria.
He also criticised the handling of the Inspirational Music category at a previous ceremony, saying nominees had invested in publicity and attended award events but the category was not presented on stage. The Headies says some categories are rotated because the awards have expanded to 35 categories and cannot all be presented during the live broadcast.
The 2026 Awards Could Put the Debate to the Test
The Headies 2026 nominations include a dedicated Best Inspirational Single category featuring artists such as Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor, alongside Sinach, Mercy Chinwo and others.
The 18th Headies is scheduled for October 25 in Toronto under the theme “Africa to the World”. The real test may therefore come on awards night. If gospel records with strong commercial and cultural impact begin appearing more regularly in mainstream categories, the controversy may lose momentum.
If they remain concentrated almost entirely in the Inspirational Music category, the debate over how The Headies defines mainstream music is likely to continue.
