Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, professionally known as Ayra Starr, is a 24-year-old Nigerian songwriter, producer, singer, and, most recently, an actress.
Ayra came into the limelight in 2021 with the release of her self-titled EP, but began her musical career as a child. She finished in second place on the Nigerian television talent show Maltina Dance All as a young child, and in 2018, as a teenager, she signed with a modelling agency and built a career as a model.
In 2019, Oyinkansola started posting song covers on her social media platforms, which helped her get attention from Mavins founder, Don Jazzy, who expressed interest in her music. After releasing her EP, a track from it titled “Away” peaked at number four on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50 and number 17 on US Billboard Top Triller Global. Its accompanying music video also debuted on MTV Base’s Official Naija Top 10.
In 2022, she released her global hit track “Rush” as part of the deluxe edition of 19 & Dangerous. The song charted in several territories, including Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, earning her first nomination at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance. In 2023, she announced her first headlining world tour, 21: The World Tour, with 40 stops across North America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
By 2025, Ayra Starr had won several awards, including Best African Music Act at the MOBO Awards and a 2026 Best International Act award. In August 2026, she released her third studio album, “Starrgirl,” and on October 11, 2026, she also became the first African artist to perform at a halftime show for an NFL International Games football game.
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