Ayra Starr

Born in 2002, the musician known as Ayra Starr rose to international prominence through a rapid succession of chart-topping hits and studio albums. Her professional trajectory, beginning with social media song covers in 2019, quickly shifted to the global stage as she became a pioneering Nigerian female artist in terms of streaming milestones and festival performances.

Foundations and Early Interests

Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe in Cotonou on 14 June 2002, she holds citizenship in both Benin and Nigeria. Raised across Cotonou and Lagos, she grew up in a household with four other siblings and shared an early interest in music with her brother, Damilola. While she actively pursued the arts as a teenager, she also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and political science at Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou.

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Entry into the Music Industry

Before her recording career, she finished as a runner-up in the Maltina Dance All television talent show and worked as a model under the agency Quove Models starting in 2018. Her transition to professional music began in 2019 when she uploaded original compositions to social media. After Don Jazzy discovered her material, she joined Mavin Records, where she recorded her early work in Lagos alongside producers including Louddaaa and Dayogrey.

Breakthrough and Chart Success

In early 2021, she released a self-titled EP featuring the track "Away," which reached the number-one spot on Nigeria iTunes. Her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, followed in August 2021 and produced the single "Bloody Samaritan," which achieved the top position on the Top 50 charts. By 2022, her song "Rush" brought significant international attention, leading to a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

International Expansion

Her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, arrived in May 2024 and debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 195. That same year, she became the first African female artist to perform on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Her 2026 release, Starr Girl, continued her professional output. Throughout this period, she reached 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify and secured a Best African Music Act win at the 2025 MOBO Awards.