Gaise Baba Critiques The Headies for Ignoring Gospel Artistes

Gospel singer Gaise Baba has publicly criticized The Headies awards in an open letter, accusing the ceremony of sidelining gospel artistes and disrespecting their contributions to the music industry. He shared this letter on his Instagram page, reflecting on his relationship with The Headies since October 20, 2012, when he had been a professional in the music space for over two years.

Gaise Baba, who identifies as "one of the leading voices in Afrogospel today," expressed concern over the 2024 ceremony, where he was nominated in the newly introduced Inspirational Music category, yet the winner was never publicly announced or recognized on stage. He challenged the practice of isolating gospel music from mainstream categories, arguing that the subject matter does not diminish the artistry involved.

Despite acknowledging The Headies as the "biggest, most active, and most recognised music award," he insisted that the organization should improve its treatment of all nominees. This is not the first time he has raised such concerns, having previously called for a broader understanding of gospel music as a message rather than a standalone genre.