In an unprecedented turn for Nigeria’s music landscape, YouTube has crowned a gospel worship song as the nation’s most-watched music video of 2025, signaling what many are calling a seismic shift in the country’s entertainment culture.
“No Turning Back II,” performed by gospel artiste Akinade Ibuoye—professionally known as Gaise Baba—and featuring worship leader Lawrence Oyor, has officially claimed the top spot on YouTube Nigeria’s year-end music video chart, the streaming platform announced this week. The achievement marks a rare instance of a Christian music release dominating mainstream charts in a market traditionally led by Afrobeats and hip-hop.
Released on May 16, the worship anthem captured the hearts of Nigerian viewers with remarkable speed, accumulating over 41 million views in just six months. The video also garnered 397,000 likes and generated more than 22,000 comments, reflecting not just passive viewership but active engagement from a devoted audience.
The song’s success is all the more striking given the competitive landscape it emerged from. It outpaced releases from some of Nigeria’s biggest music exports, including Shallipopi’s “Laho,” which secured second place, and “With You,” a collaboration between global superstar Davido and rising star Omah Lay, which came in third. Other notable entries in the top ten included tracks from Afrobeats heavyweights Wizkid, Olamide, Asake, and Rema.
Responding to the milestone in the comment section of YouTube’s Instagram announcement, Gaise Baba attributed the success to divine intervention and collective obedience. “Big shout-out to Pastor Lawrence Oyor and that warrior congregation of David Generation Church. See what the Lord has done with our simple obedience. Of a truth, we shift the culture,” the artiste wrote, his words resonating with thousands of followers.
Industry observers suggest the song’s breakthrough reflects broader trends in Nigerian society, where gospel music has steadily gained mainstream traction alongside the country’s dominant secular genres. The worship anthem reportedly transcended denominational and even religious boundaries, with many non-religious Nigerians embracing its uplifting message during a year marked by economic challenges and social uncertainty.
Music analyst Chidi Okonkwo noted that “No Turning Back II” represents more than just a viral moment. “What we’re witnessing is the intersection of faith, cultural identity, and digital media consumption,” Okonkwo explained. “Gospel music has always had a strong presence in Nigeria, but this level of mainstream dominance on a platform like YouTube is genuinely historic.”
YouTube’s 2025 year-end report also highlighted Nigeria’s thriving creator economy beyond music. In the Top Creator Channels category, veteran actress and filmmaker Omoni Oboli claimed the number one position with her channel “Omoni Oboli TV,” underscoring Nollywood’s continued digital evolution.
Omoni Oboli was followed by actor Ibrahim Yekini’s “Itelediconstudio” in second place and filmmaker Uchenna Mbunabo’s eponymous channel in third. The top ten list was dominated by Nollywood content creators, including actress Ruth Kadiri, comedian Brain Jotter, and several other film industry personalities, demonstrating the movie industry’s firm grip on Nigeria’s YouTube ecosystem.
The dominance of film and entertainment channels reflects Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest film producer and highlights how traditional Nollywood has successfully adapted to digital-first distribution models.
The success of “No Turning Back II” raises intriguing questions about the future direction of Nigerian music. While Afrobeats continues its global ascent—with artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido performing on international stages—the domestic market appears increasingly receptive to diverse genres, particularly those that speak to spiritual and cultural values.
For Gaise Baba and Lawrence Oyor, the recognition represents vindication for artists working outside Nigeria’s commercial music mainstream. It also signals to gospel musicians that authentic worship music, when executed with quality production and genuine conviction, can compete with—and even surpass—secular offerings in the digital age.
As Nigeria’s music industry continues to evolve, one thing is certain: the cultural conversation has been shifted, and the evidence is there in the numbers—41 million views strong.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Gaise Baba’s worship song “No Turning Back II” has shattered expectations by becoming Nigeria’s most-watched music video of 2025 with 41 million views—beating out Afrobeats superstars like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.
This isn’t just a viral moment—it’s evidence of a genuine cultural shift. Gospel music has broken through Nigeria’s secular-dominated mainstream, proving that faith-based content can compete at the highest levels when it resonates authentically with people’s values and struggles.
In a year marked by economic hardship, Nigerians chose worship over everything else, and the numbers don’t lie.
