The Headies denies sidelining gospel music artists

Organizers of The Headies music awards have rejected allegations that gospel and inspirational artists are being sidelined from major award categories. The response follows an open letter from Afrogospel singer Gaise Baba, who argued that faith-based musicians should be judged on the quality, sound, and impact of their music rather than their religious messaging.

In a statement released via Instagram, the organizers maintained that their history contradicts claims of exclusion. They cited the past successes of several gospel-rooted artists in mainstream categories, including Lara George, Kefee, Nikki Laoye, and Timi Dakolo. Specifically, they noted Timi Dakolo’s achievement of winning three awards in a single night, including Recording of the Year.

The organizers also defended the Best Inspirational Single category, which was introduced in 2022 to provide a dedicated platform for music promoting faith, hope, and positive values.