The organisers of the Headies have rejected allegations that gospel artistes are being excluded from major award categories, saying faith-based musicians have historically competed for and won mainstream honours. The organisers reacted to an open letter by Nigerian gospel singer Gaise Baba, who accused the awards of relegating gospel and inspirational music to separate categories instead of allowing them to compete for major honours.
Gaise Baba also alleged that although he was nominated for the Inspirational Music category introduced in 2024, the winner was neither publicly announced nor presented on stage. In a statement shared on its official Instagram page, the Headies said its records contradict claims that gospel artistes are deliberately excluded from major categories. “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 organisers said. The Headies cited the achievements of gospel and inspirational artistes such as Lara George, Kefee, Nikki Laoye and Timi Dakolo as evidence that faith-based musicians have competed successfully in general categories.
According to the organisers, Lara George was nominated for Best Female Vocal Performance in 2008 for her song, ‘Ijoba Orun’, before winning the category in 2010 with ‘Keeper of My Dreams’. Kefee, they added, won Best Collaboration in 2010 alongside Timaya for ‘Kokoroko’, which also earned nominations for Song of the Year, Best Pop Single, Best Female Vocal Performance and Best Music Video.
The organisers also noted that Timi Dakolo won Recording of the Year in 2010 for ‘Heaven Please’ and picked up three awards in 2015 for ‘Wish Me Well’. Nikki Laoye, they said, won Best Vocal Performance (Female) in 2013 for ‘Only You’. The Headies said the examples demonstrated