In a cultural milestone that signals the expanding reach of Nigerian gospel music, artist Gaise Baba has claimed the title of the country’s most-viewed music video on YouTube for 2025.
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His powerful single, “No Turning Back II,” a collaboration with worship leader Pastor Lawrence Oyor, has outpaced major hits from Afrobeats giants to lead YouTube Nigeria’s official year-end music rankings.
The achievement represents a significant shift, as a faith-based song has topped a list traditionally dominated by mainstream pop. Upon receiving the recognition, Gaise Baba (born Akinade Ibuoye) expressed profound gratitude, stating, “The children are instrumental to the success of this song” and framing the win as a breakthrough: “It means that gospel ministers can be number one in the entire industry… We will change the culture.” The song also won the Best Song award at the 2025 Premier Gospel Awards.
Baba’s success is rooted in his unique fusion of Gospel themes with contemporary Afrobeats and urban sounds, a style categorised as “AfroGospel.” Beyond music, he is a self-described “culture architect” and community builder. An economics graduate from Obafemi Awolowo University and a Berklee College of Music alumnus, he founded the LightOut High School Initiative to promote education and the Aramanda Festival for the arts and music.
The announcement was part of YouTube Nigeria’s release of its 2025 Top Lists. Addy Awofisayo, YouTube’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, noted the lists affirm “Nigeria’s creative energy is undeniable.”
Baba’s chart-topping victory demonstrates that messages of faith, delivered through compelling and culturally relevant music, can achieve the highest levels of mainstream popularity and redefine the nation’s cultural soundtrack.
