The Man Behind “No Turning Back” How a Gospel Song Went VIRAL Before Release

Gaise Baba How a Gospel Song Went Viral Before Release Faith Discipline and the Untold Story of “No Turning Back”

In this episode of The Afropolitan Podcast, we sit down with Gaise Baba, one of the most important voices shaping Afro Gospel, to unpack the real story behind how his song “No Turning Back” became a global movement before it was ever officially released.

From organizing free concerts while broke, to navigating criticism from the church, personal grief, and long seasons of obscurity, Gaise Baba shares a raw and honest journey built on faith, discipline, and conviction.

This conversation explores how preparation meets purpose when nobody is watching.

We dive into:

How “No Turning Back” went viral on TikTok and Instagram before release, and why timing mattered more than strategy
The real economics of gospel music in Nigeria, and why African artists are quietly out earning Western counterparts
Faith versus logic in creativity, business, and decision making
The backlash around modern gospel music and how Gaise Baba stayed rooted through criticism
What it really means to build while broke, unseen, and underestimated

This episode goes beyond music.
It is about identity, discipline, legacy, grief, and cultural influence.

If you are a creator, artist, founder, or someone navigating purpose in a noisy world, this conversation will stay with you.

Welcome to The Afropolitan Podcast, where African stories are told with honesty, depth, and pride.

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Hosted by:

Eche – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eemole/
Chika – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chikauwazie/

0:00 - Intro & Teaser
2:09 - How Gaise Baba Got Into Gospel Music
4:24 - Personal Faith Journey & Encounter at 18
5:57 - Navigating Criticism of Modern Gospel Sound
9:08 - The Light Up Movement: Free School Concerts
15:42 - Advice for Creators Building in Obscurity
18:27 - No Turning Back: The Viral Rollout Strategy
22:51 - The Song Blew Before It Was Released
25:00 - The Unlikely Collaboration with Lawrence Oyor
29:02 - Shooting the Music Video with 1,000+ Church Members
36:24 - How the Lawrence Oyor Collaboration Happened
41:02 - Understanding the Gospel Music Industry Economics
44:29 - Nigeria as the New Frontier for Worship Music
52:06 - Moving by Faith: Organizing Events with Nothing
57:05 - Lessons from Berklee College of Music
1:03:06 - Why Light Must Operate in Darkness
1:09:05 - Christians Need to Be at the Table
1:17:17 - Losing His Mom & Releasing No Turning Back
1:25:01 - The Spiritual Regiment That Prepared Him
1:26:12 - Advice for Young Men Finding Their Way Back to God
1:34:48 - Rapid Fire: Favorite Food, Gospel Song & Artists
1:38:28 - Who Should Be on the Podcast Next: Soji Labby