Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr
Starr performing in 2023
Born
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe

(2002-06-14) 14 June 2002
Cotonou, Benin
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2021–present
Musical career
Genres
Afrobeats
Labels

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe (born 14 June 2002), known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter.[1] She was born in Cotonou, Benin, and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. She is of Yoruba descent, with both parents from Kwara State.[2]

Early life

Ayra Starr is the second of five children. She studied at Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou, where she earned a degree in international relations and political science.[3]In December 2019, she posted a song called "Damage" on her Instagram page. Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy saw it and invited her to meet. She signed with Mavin Records and began recording in Lagos in 2020.[4]

Career

2021: First releases

Her self-titled debut EP was released in January 2021 through Mavin Records. It reached number one on the Nigeria iTunes and Apple Music charts shortly after release.[5]Her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, was released on 6 August 2021. The lead single, "Bloody Samaritan", reached number one on Nigeria's music charts.[6]

2022: Rush

In September 2022, she released the song "Rush". It charted in several countries including Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.[7] The song earned her a nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.[8]

2024: Second album

Her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, was released on 31 May 2024. It debuted at number one on the Nigerian Albums Chart and entered the Billboard 200 at number 195, making her the first Nigerian female artist to reach that chart.[9]In June 2024, she performed at the Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage, becoming the first African female artist to do so.[10]She also worked with Coldplay on the song "Good Feelings" from their album Moon Music and was a supporting act for the band's world tour in Australia and New Zealand.

2025–present

In February 2025, she won Best African Music Act at the MOBO Awards.[11]In June 2025, she won the BET Award for Best International Act.[12]In July 2025, she signed a management deal with Roc Nation while remaining signed to Mavin Records for music releases.[13]On 26 March 2026, she won Best International Act at the MOBO Awards for the second year in a row.[14]She announced her third studio album, Starr Girl, scheduled for release in 2026.[15]

Discography

Studio albums

  • 19 & Dangerous (2021)
  • The Year I Turned 21 (2024)
  • Starr Girl (2026)

References

  1. ↑ "Home". Ayra Starr. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Obi, Ify (18 March 2021). "Nigerian Singer Ayra Starr Is Making Her Mark on Music". Hypebae. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (13 August 2021). "The Sharp and Swift Ascent of Ayra Starr". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  4. ↑ Vincent, Oladoyinbo (13 February 2024). "How I Got Signed By Don Jazzy". Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Amoye, Temisan (23 August 2021). "19 & Dangerous: An expansive and cohesive intro to Ayra Starr". Vanguard. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 Nigeria music countdown: Ayra Starr comes first with multiple No. 1 songs in Nigeria". Vanguard. 10 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List". grammy.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "2024 GRAMMY Nominations". grammy.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Mamo, Heran (30 May 2024). "Ayra Starr Always Dreamt of Being a 'Teenage Superstar'". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Savage, Mark (25 June 2024). "Ayra Starr on her 'crazy' Glastonbury debut and meeting Rihanna". BBC News. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  11. ↑ "MOBO Awards: Ayra Starr makes history as first woman to win Best African Act". Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. 19 February 2025. Retrieved 20 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Ayra Starr makes history with first BET award for Best International Act". Vanguard. 10 June 2025.
  13. ↑ "Ayra Starr signs management deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation". Vanguard. 17 July 2025.
  14. ↑ Akhimien, Nosakhale (27 March 2026). "Again, Ayra Starr Wins Best International Act at 2026 MOBO Awards". Channels Television. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "Ayra Starr Announces Third Album "Starr Girl" on Jennifer Hudson Show". 16 April 2026. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.