Gaise Baba is making history, and he’s doing it on a wave of holy fire and Gen Z energy.
His latest single, “No Turning Back II” featuring Lawrence Oyor, has officially become the highest-charting gospel song in the five-year history of Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 100. The track currently sits at No. 4, making it the most commercially successful gospel release on the nation’s definitive chart that aggregates streaming, TV, and radio data.
A reimagining of the timeless hymn “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” the record is not just spiritually rooted, it’s rhythmically fresh. With its upbeat production and sing-along hook, “No Turning Back II” has found viral footing, especially on TikTok, where creators have latched onto its joyful message and danceable tempo.
This feat comes hot on the heels of another breakout gospel moment earlier this year, Lawrence Oyor’s “Favour“, which charted impressively and hinted at what’s now becoming a clear trend: gospel is having a commercial renaissance in Nigeria.
Streaming has long tilted the scales in favour of Afropop, but recent data shows gospel music is making a powerful resurgence. On Spotify, gospel streams from Nigeria’s Gen Z listeners rose by a staggering 1,228% between 2022 and 2024. Christian podcasts followed closely with a 482% increase in the same period.
In March, Sunmisola Agbebi broke another barrier, becoming the first gospel artist in Nigeria to hit 1 million monthly Spotify listeners. Meanwhile, Moses Bliss and Mercy Chinwo remain top contenders among Nigeria’s most streamed artists on YouTube this year, across all genres.
TikTok, in particular, has become a key accelerator for gospel music, allowing uplifting tracks like “No Turning Back II” to cut across religious circles and land in pop culture conversations. It’s a shift that not only broadens the reach of faith-based music but also redefines how the next generation experiences spiritual soundtracks.
As “No Turning Back II” continues its climb, one thing is clear: gospel is no longer sitting quietly in the background. It’s charting, streaming, trending, and turning all the way up.
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