April 15th: His Mom Died. May 16th: The Song Went Viral

His mother passed on April 15th.
"No Turning Back" dropped on May 16th.

Gaise Baba carried grief and glory in the same season. Without letting either one break him. This is the conversation. 

Before the Millions, There Were Empty Rooms

In 2017, Gaise Baba wanted to organize a free concert at King's College, his alma mater.

Cost: ₦60,000. He had nothing.

So he gathered four friends. They prayed. That same evening, each one transferred ₦5,000. Not cash. Transfer. That ₦20,000 became a deposit. The deposit became a door.

That was the birth of Light Up—a movement that would take him to secondary schools and universities across Nigeria for the next eight years.

No invitations. No sponsorships. Just showing up.

Teenagers became his training ground. They taught him stagecraft, confidence, honesty. Because you can't fake energy with teenagers. They'll expose you immediately.

In those rooms nobody applauded, he learned everything that would carry him when the lights finally came on.

"God's Soup in the Devil's Pot"

Criticism came early—and publicly.

He was told his expression was too modern. Too different. Too disruptive. That remixing gospel into contemporary sounds meant he was "cooking God's soup in the devil's pot."

Words like that can end a calling if you let them.

But Gaise Baba learned something vital: criticism only moves you when you're unsure of your conviction. When you are, you extend grace. Not because the words don't sting—but because you understand their limits.

Not everyone can see the full picture. And that's okay. Sometimes resistance is just delayed understanding.

The Collaboration Nobody Saw Coming

Lawrence Oyor and Gaise Baba.

Two different worlds. Intense spiritual fervor meets Afro-gospel ease. Nobody expected it to work.

Then the snippets hit TikTok. The song went viral before it was even released. People were begging them to drop it. Curiosity turned into momentum. Momentum turned into millions.

But here's what most people missed: Gaise Baba wasn't riding a wave of excitement when "No Turning Back" dropped.

He was standing in obedience. Thirty days after burying his mother.

"God gave me a wave," he said. "And you don't waste a wave." That isn't hustle language. That's stewardship.

What This Episode Will Give You:

→ Why being born into faith is not the same as choosing it
→ How to withstand criticism without losing tenderness
→ The hidden value of "unseen" seasons—why roots matter more than reach
→ How preparation in obscurity sustains you when visibility comes
→ What it means to carry grief and responsibility without collapsing
→ Why influence requires entering culture—not running from it 

_{This episode is brought to you in partnership with Vban, the borderless banking app built for Africa’s digital workforce. Use the code AFROPOLITAN to sign up: https://vban.com so they know you came from us}

This Conversation Will Meet You Where You Are

If you're building quietly. If you're grieving privately. If you feel late, unseen, or stretched between obedience and exhaustion.

This one's for you.

LISTENT ON SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS 

Afropolitan Meetup: Detty December Edition

Some of you missed Afropolitan Live and asked for another chance to link up. We heard you 🖤

📅 Dec 27th
🕘 9PM – Midnight
📍 Miliki, Lagos

No agenda. Just vibes and our people closing out the year right.
Dress code: Relaxed but elevated.
Get Your Ticket Here

ABE—All Black Everything

December in Lagos isn’t just about the grind—it’s about presence, reunion, and celebrating the year that was.

That’s why the ultimate Detty December reunion is happening today by 9pm. ABE—the most anticipated event every December. It is a global celebration of Black excellence, culture and life.

ABE is a movement uniting music, art, fashion and conversation to honor heritage and amplify the spirit of the diaspora. Check the details below:

Thursday, December 25th | 9PM
Lagos Polo Club
Awolowo Road Entrance Only

It takes place inside a custom-built, fully air-conditioned luxury marquee for maximum comfort premium experience.

VIP Tables are available for those who value space and arriving into rooms that already feel intentional. Tables can be reserved with 10% down. Get your ticket now.

NEW: Connect with Industry Experts on Convo

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Warmly,
Chika & Eche
Co-Hosts, Afropolitan Podcast