Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer known for her Afrobeats, R&B, alté and Afropop sound. Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin, she was raised between Cotonou and Lagos, Nigeria.

Ayra Starr developed an interest in music from a young age and began sharing song covers on social media in 2019. Her original song “Damage” later attracted the attention of Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy, leading to her signing with the label and beginning professional recording sessions in Lagos.

She officially began her music career in 2021 with her self-titled debut EP, which included the song “Away.” Later that year, she released her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous. The album featured “Bloody Samaritan,” which became her first No. 1 song on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50 chart.

In 2022, Ayra Starr gained wider international attention with “Rush,” which charted in several countries and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance. She continued to expand her international profile through collaborations, major festival performances and tours.

Her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, was released in May 2024. The album explored themes of self-discovery, love, grief and empowerment and featured artists including Coco Jones, Giveon, Asake, Anitta and Rauw Alejandro. It became the first album by a Nigerian female artist to enter the Billboard 200.

In 2025, Ayra Starr won Best African Music Act at the MOBO Awards and Best International Act at the BET Awards. She also signed an international management deal with Roc Nation while remaining signed to Mavin Records for music releases.

In 2026, she continued her international career with new music and performances before releasing her third studio album, Starr Girl, in August 2026.

Songs