Popular gospel artist Gaise Baba has made history with his latest single, No Turning Back II featuring Lawrence Iyor, which has become the highest-charting gospel song in the five-year history of Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100 chart.
The song peaked at No. 4 on the TurnTable Top 100 — Nigeria’s leading music chart that compiles data from streaming platforms, TV, and radio.
A modern reinterpretation of the classic hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” No Turning Back II blends inspirational lyrics with vibrant beats, capturing a wide audience and going viral on TikTok. Its success marks a significant moment for Nigerian gospel music, becoming the second major hit in the genre this year after Lawrence Iyor’s Favour topped charts earlier in 2025.
This momentum highlights a resurgence in gospel music’s mainstream appeal, which had previously seen a decline due to the rise of pop dominance on streaming platforms. Now, social platforms like TikTok are reshaping the landscape, introducing gospel music to a younger demographic.
Between 2022 and 2024, Spotify reported a staggering 1,228% increase in Gen Z gospel streams in Nigeria, alongside a 482% rise in Christian podcast listening. This wave is also reflected in the achievements of artists like Sumisola Agbebi — the first gospel artist to surpass one million monthly listeners on Spotify — and top names like Moses Bliss and Mercy Chinwo, who ranked among Nigeria’s most-streamed artists on YouTube in early 2025.
Gaise Baba’s record-breaking success underscores a new era for gospel music in Nigeria, one driven by digital trends, cross-genre innovation, and renewed youth engagement.
