Ayra Starr, a Nigerian singer and songwriter has made history as the first female artist to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, joining the ranks of global Afrobeats icons Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido.
Her breakout hit “Rush,” which has amassed over 450 million views, stands as the most-watched music video by a Nigerian female artist.
The song earned Ayra Starr, a platinum plaque in the UK and marked her as the first Nigerian female artist to debut a solo track on the UK Official Top 100 chart.
In 2025, Ayra Starr expanded her global reach with the release of ‘Gimme Dat’, a collaboration with Wizkid. The track, which samples Wyclef Jean’s classics ‘Diallo’ and ‘911’ featuring Mary J. Blige, has already garnered significant attention.
The 22-year-old also earned major accolades, including two MOBO Awards and a Headies Award for Best R&B Single for her collaboration with Giveon on Last Heartbreak Song.
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Born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, Ayra Starr signed to Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, caught the attention of the Nigerian audience with the release of her debut hit, ‘Away’, in 2021, but gained prominence with her hit song Bloody Samaritan.
Since then, she has remained a dominant force in African music, earning multiple accolades for her work.
She is renowned for her hit songs such as ‘Away,’ ‘Rush,’ ‘Bloody Civilian’ and ‘Last Heartbreak Song.’
