AYRA STARR (Female Artiste of the day)

 

Childhood and Early Life

Ayra Starr was born as Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, to Nigerian parents from the Yoruba tribe. She was raised in a music-loving family alongside her siblings. Her mother was a singer and her brother Dami is also a musician who would later help her with songwriting and production. Due to her father's job, the family moved around often, which made it difficult for her to form lasting friendships. Despite being bullied in school because of her petite size and looks, she turned to music as her escape and therapy. She developed a passion for singing at an early age and began writing songs with her brother as a child. Ayra later studied International Relations and Political Science at Les Cours Sonou University in Benin.

See also: A CRAZY EXPERIENCE

Modeling and Discovery

Before her music career took off, Ayra dabbled in modeling. At just 16, she joined a modeling agency in Lagos and worked with fashion brands like Esperanza and Mazelle Studio. In 2019, she began sharing videos of her singing on Instagram, one of which, a song she wrote called "Damage", caught the attention of legendary Nigerian producer Don Jazzy. Impressed by her raw talent and unique sound, Don Jazzy signed her to Mavin Records in 2020. That marked the beginning of her transformation from an Instagram singer to a rising Afro-pop star.

Musical Breakthrough and Early Success

Ayra’s official debut came in January 2021 when she released a self-titled EP under Mavin Records. The lead single, "Away," quickly went viral and earned massive radio play and online streams. The success of the EP positioned her as a fresh new voice in the Nigerian music industry. She followed up in August 2021 with her debut album "19 & Dangerous", which featured hit tracks like "Bloody Samaritan", the first solo song by a female Nigerian artist to top the country’s official music chart. She earned praise for her lyrical depth, distinctive voice, and fusion of Afrobeat, R&B, and soul.

International Recognition and Achievements

In 2022, Ayra Starr released "Rush," which turned out to be a massive global hit. The song trended on TikTok, received hundreds of millions of streams, and made her the first Nigerian female artist to cross 100 million YouTube views for a single video. The track also earned her a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the Grammy Awards, making her one of the youngest Nigerians ever to be nominated. She toured Europe and the U.S., performed on major global stages, and earned endorsement deals with major brands, solidifying her status as an international star.

See also: TYLA (Female Artiste of the day)

Movies, Album Two, and Public Image

In 2024, Ayra released her second studio album, "The Year I Turned 21," which featured collaborations with global acts like Rauw Alejandro, Coco Jones, Asake, and Giveon. The album debuted at number one in Nigeria and became her first project to enter the Billboard 200 chart in the U.S. That same year, she made her acting debut in a romantic comedy film "Christmas in Lagos," which aired on Amazon Prime and earned her award nominations for her performance. While Ayra hasn’t been involved in any major scandals, she has occasionally drawn criticism over her fashion choices, which some people find too daring. She has consistently defended her creative freedom and refused to bow to conservative pressure.

Current Status and Legacy

As of 2025, Ayra Starr stands as one of Africa’s biggest female music exports. She has over 1 billion YouTube views and 2 billion streams on Spotify, a feat very few African female artists have achieved. Her latest single “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid broke streaming records in Nigeria and reached charts across Europe and the U.S. She continues to tour internationally and is a strong voice for women’s empowerment and artistic freedom. Ayra is not just a pop star, she’s a cultural symbol of young African ambition, resilience, and fearless creativity.