Ayra Starr

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, better known as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter making waves in the Afropop and R&B scenes. Born on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin, she grew up between Benin and Nigeria in a musically inclined family. Her love for music started early—by the age of 10, she was already singing in her school choir. She later pursued a degree in International Relations and Political Science at Les Cours Sonou University.

Before stepping into the music industry, Ayra explored modeling, signing with Quove Model Management at 16. However, her true passion lay in music. She began posting song covers on Instagram, which caught the attention of Don Jazzy, the head of Mavin Records. Recognizing her raw talent, he signed her in 2019, setting the stage for her rise to fame.

In January 2021, Ayra released her self-titled debut EP, with the breakout track Away earning her national recognition. The song spent weeks on Nigeria’s charts and even reached Billboard’s Top Triller Global chart. Building on this momentum, she dropped her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, later that year. It featured hit songs like Bloody Samaritan, which made history as the first solo track by a female artist to top Nigeria’s official chart.

Her international breakthrough came with Rush in 2022, a song that charted worldwide, peaking at No. 24 in the UK and earning her a Grammy nomination. In 2024, she released her second album, The Year I Turned 21, featuring collaborations with artists like Asake and Rauw Alejandro. With her signature sound and undeniable charisma, Ayra Starr continues to solidify her place as one of Africa’s brightest musical stars.