Gaise Baba returns with “Smile for Joy,” an Afro-gospel uplift featuring South African vocalist Nontokozo Mkhize, and the mood shifts fast.
This seventh track on his third studio album, God Is Cooking, arrives through 464 Projects and ONErpm. It runs just 2 minutes and 45 seconds, but that short span carries a deliberate pivot from the grief explored on “Yield.”
The Nigerian singer-songwriter, born Akinade Ibuoye, has long blended gospel with Afrobeats. His 2011 debut set that tone, and recent releases like “No Turning Back” keep the momentum alive. Here, Mkhize adds a vibrant vocal layer that strengthens the celebratory push.
Joy becomes the subject, not just the mood. The writing turns praise into a promise of better days, and the West and Southern African influences sit together without friction. It is concise, faith-filled, and easy to receive.
Is “Smile for Joy” already on your playlist? Drop your verdict in the comments below.
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