Ayra Starr

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, professionally known as Ayra Starr, is a Beninese-born Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer. She is widely recognized for her contributions to Afropop and R&B, earning international acclaim through charting singles such as "Away," "Bloody Samaritan," and "Rush." Her stage name originates from Arabic, meaning "somebody that is highly respected."

Starr was born on 14 June 2002 in Benin and was raised in Cotonou and Lagos, Nigeria. She is of Nigerian and Yoruba heritage, with both parents originating from Kwara State, and she speaks English, French, Yoruba, and Nigerian Pidgin. Raised in a musically inclined family as the second of five children, she often played music with her older brother Damilola and was inspired by her mother, who was a former singer. She later attended Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and political science.

Before pursuing music full-time, Starr finished in second place on the Nigerian talent show Maltina Dance All as a child and signed with Quove Models in 2018. In 2019, she began posting song covers on social media and uploaded an original track titled "Damage." This post caught the attention of Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy, leading to her signing with the label. In January 2021, she released her debut self-titled EP, which reached number one on the Nigerian iTunes and Apple Music charts. The EP featured the single "Away," which peaked at number four on Nigeria's TurnTable Top 50.

Starr released her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, in August 2021. The album yielded the hit single "Bloody Samaritan," which made her the first solo female artist to reach number one on the Top 50 charts in Nigeria. In 2022, Starr achieved wider global recognition with the release of "Rush." The single charted internationally in countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Switzerland, eventually earning a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

In May 2024, Starr released her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, which debuted at number one on the Nigerian Albums Chart and entered the Billboard 200 at number 195. That year, she became the first African female artist to perform on Glastonbury Festival's Pyramid Stage and toured extensively, including serving as an opening act for Chris Brown's 11:11 Tour. In mid-2025, while remaining signed to Mavin Records, she entered into an international management agreement with Roc Nation to expand her global reach.

Starr's career continued to expand with major awards and projects. She won Best African Music Act at the MOBO Awards in February 2025 and Best International Act at the BET Awards in June 2025, later winning Best International Act at the MOBOs again in March 2026. After releasing successful singles such as "Commas," "Santa," "Where Do We Go," and "Tornado," Starr released her third studio album, Starr Girl, in August 2026.