Ayra Starr

About Ayra Starr

Rush catapulted Ayra Starr into the global spotlight in 2022. The song charted across Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe was born on June 14, 2002. She adopted the stage name Ayra Starr early in her music career.

Her breakthrough came in early 2021 with the self-titled debut EP and its lead single "Away". The track spent two consecutive weeks at number four on Nigeria's TurnTable Top 50 chart and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top Thriller Global chart.

That same year, she released her debut studio album 19 & Dangerous. The album reached the top 40 on Nigeria's TurnTable charts and caught the attention of major publications. NativeMag included it in their year-end lists, marking her as an artist to watch.

"Bloody Samaritan" became a watershed moment for Nigerian female artists. It was the first song by a solo female artist to reach number one on the Top 50 charts. By August 2021, Billboard ranked Starr number three on their Next Big Sound chart.

Her momentum continued building through the early 2020s. In 2024, she released her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, further establishing herself as a major force in Nigerian music.

Ayra Starr's rise from debut EP to Grammy nominee happened in less than three years. Her success reflects a shift in how Nigerian music reaches international audiences. With Rush on global charts and critical recognition from major award bodies, she has cemented her place among Nigeria's most promising artists.