Ayra Starr — Biography, Age, Origin & Discography

Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter born on 14 June 2002 in Cotonou, Benin. Of Yoruba descent and raised between Cotonou and Lagos, she makes afropop and R&B, which she calls “afro-soul.” Signed to Mavin Records, she released her third album, Starrgirl, in August 2026.

🪪 Fact Sheet

Biography

A childhood between Cotonou and Lagos

Picture a kid growing up in a coastal city in Benin, speaking Yoruba at home, French at school and English in songs. That’s Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, born 14 June 2002 in Cotonou, second of five children. Her parents come from Kwara State in Nigeria, which makes her a Nigerian born in Benin, not the other way around. The mix-up is classic, and we come back to it in the FAQ.

At home, music isn’t a hobby, it’s the air. Her mother sang, her older brother Damilola (Dami) plays guitar and wrote songs with her from childhood. She sang in her school choir around age ten and even placed second in a Nigerian TV dance contest, Maltina Dance All. The family later moved to Lagos, the city that never sleeps, a true cultural crossroads. That blend, French-speaking Cotonou and loud English-speaking Lagos, would become her signature.

On the serious side: her father pushed her to take school seriously, and she earned a BA in international relations and political science at Les Cours Sonou in Cotonou. A political science graduate turned pop star is a reminder that you can do it all at once.

The early days: a model at 16, covers on Instagram

At sixteen she signed with the modeling agency Quove Models (August 2018). But the camera wasn’t enough: in 2019 she posted covers on Instagram, and they took off. In December 2019 she shared an original, “Damage.” It caught the ear of Don Jazzy, head of Mavin Records, who invited her to join the label. She started recording at Mavin’s studios in 2020.

Fun fact: according to her Wikipedia entry, the name “Ayra Starr” comes from an Arabic root meaning “a highly respected person.” Not a bad job description for a career.

The breakthrough: the Ayra Starr EP, “Away” and “Bloody Samaritan”

On 22 January 2021, she released her first EP, Ayra Starr. Then came “Away” (2021), which took off on TikTok and climbed to No. 4 on Nigeria’s Top 50 and No. 17 on Billboard’s global Triller chart. Her first Nigerian No. 1 was “Bloody Samaritan” (2021), later remixed with Kelly Rowland.

On 6 August 2021 came her debut album, 19 & Dangerous, including “Fashion Killa” and “Bloody Samaritan.” It voiced a youth that was sparkling and unruly at once, and made her the new voice of African Gen Z. That same year she became a Pepsi Nigeria brand ambassador.

Going global: “Rush” and the world tour

In 2022, the deluxe edition of 19 & Dangerous added “Rush,” and everything changed. The track hit No. 1 in Nigeria, No. 5 in France and No. 24 in the UK, and earned platinum certifications (UK, Canada, New Zealand) and diamond in France. It brought her first Grammy nomination (Best African Music Performance, 2024).

Collaborations followed: Wizkid (“2 Sugar,” 2022), David Guetta and Lil Durk (“Big FU,” 2023), Ninho (“No Love,” 2023, diamond in France), Rauw Alejandro (“Santa,” 2024, No. 1 in Spain), Coldplay (“Good Feelings”), Angélique Kidjo (“Aye Kan”), Aya Nakamura (“Hypé”)… Her first world tour, 21: The World Tour (2023, about 40 stops), made her one of the youngest African women to headline a world tour. She also opened for Chris Brown and Coldplay, and in June 2024 played Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, billed as the first African woman to do so.

Growing up: The Year I Turned 21 and the step up

On 31 May 2024 she released her second album, The Year I Turned 21 (Mavin / Republic). It debuted at No. 1 in Nigeria and entered the US Billboard 200. On Spotify she has been Nigeria’s most-streamed female artist since 2022, and the first Nigerian woman to pass 20 million monthly listeners. She made her acting debut in Christmas in Lagos (2024) and became the face of Maybelline, then New Balance.

In 2025 she signed a management deal with Roc Nation (July) while keeping Mavin for releases. She dropped “Gimme Dat” with Wizkid (April 2025), “Hot Body” (July) and “Who’s Dat Girl” with Rema (October), and took the stage at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park.

2026: Starrgirl, an album with a crown on

“Where Do We Go” (March 2026) and “Tornado” (June) set up Starrgirl, released on 14 August 2026 via Mavin and Republic. The album has 16 tracks and guests including Wizkid, Rema, Zayn, Leon Thomas, Theodora, Danny Ocean and Kwn. According to Nigerian press, it set the record for a female artist’s biggest opening day on Spotify Nigeria, with 1.82 million first-day streams (versus 1.27 million for The Year I Turned 21). NME calls it her most adventurous album, more physical and more vulnerable than before. On 13 October 2026 she announced the Starrgirl World Tour: 20 dates from 20 January (Cologne) to 14 April 2027 (San Francisco), including Paris, London, Toronto and Brooklyn.

She is also reported in the cast of the Children of Blood and Bone film adaptation (release planned for 15 January 2027).

Her influences

Ayra Starr names Beyoncé and Rihanna, and calls herself a “Disney girl” who dreamed of being “the Nigerian Hannah Montana.” As a child she listened to 2Face Idibia, Wande Coal, Angélique Kidjo, the Lijadu Sisters and Tope Alabi; in her teens, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Sia and Tiwa Savage; as for voice, she puts Shakira at the top.

Selected discography

Albums & EP

• Ayra Starr (EP, 22 January 2021)
• 19 & Dangerous (6 August 2021; deluxe September 2022)
• The Year I Turned 21 (31 May 2024)
• Starrgirl (14 August 2026)

Key singles: “Away,” “Bloody Samaritan” (remix feat. Kelly Rowland), “Fashion Killa,” “Rush,” “2 Sugar” (with Wizkid), “Sability,” “Stamina” (with Tiwa Savage and Young Jonn), “Big FU” (with David Guetta and Lil Durk), “No Love” (with Ninho), “Santa” (with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro), “Commas,” “Gimme Dat” (with Wizkid), “Who’s Dat Girl” (with Rema), “Where Do We Go,” “Tornado.”

Awards and honors (selection)

• Grammy Awards: Best African Music Performance nominations for “Rush” (2024) and “Gimme Dat” (2026)
• BET Awards: Best International Act (2025)
• MOBO Awards: Best African Music Act (2025); Best International Act (2025 and 2026)
• Trace Awards 2025: Best West African Artist
• South African Music Awards 2025: Rest of Africa, for The Year I Turned 21
• The Headies: Breakout Artist of the Year (2022); Best R&B Single for “Last Heartbreak Song” with Giveon (2024)
• Other: Forbes 30 Under 30 (2023), BoF 500 (2025), MTV VMA nominations (2023-2025) and NRJ Music Awards nomination (International Revelation, 2023)

Why she matters

Ayra Starr is one of those artists who make the word “afrobeats” feel a little too small. She sings in Yoruba, Pidgin and English and slips in French without anyone blinking. She’s living proof that a girl from Cotonou and Lagos can fill rooms in London and Paris, and that you can have style, pen and humor at twenty-four. Our advice: play “Rush,” then “Away,” then everything else.

FAQ

How old is Ayra Starr? Born on 14 June 2002, Ayra Starr is 24 years old in October 2026.

What is Ayra Starr’s real name? Her legal name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe.

Is Ayra Starr Beninese or Nigerian? She is Nigerian, of Yoruba descent (parents from Kwara State), but was born in Cotonou, Benin, before growing up in Lagos.

Where is Ayra Starr from? Her family comes from Kwara State, Nigeria; she is Yoruba. She was born in Cotonou and raised between Benin and Lagos.

What is Ayra Starr’s music style? A blend of afropop and R&B she calls “afro-soul,” with touches of pop, blues and amapiano on her latest album.

Which artists inspire Ayra Starr? Beyoncé, Rihanna and Shakira, plus 2Face Idibia, Wande Coal, Angélique Kidjo, Tiwa Savage, Nicki Minaj and Sia. Her mother, a former singer, and her brother Dami were early influences too.

What is Ayra Starr’s latest album? Starrgirl (14 August 2026, 16 tracks), following The Year I Turned 21 (2024) and 19 & Dangerous (2021).

Social Media

• Official website: ayrastarr.com
• Facebook: ayrastarrcentral
• Instagram: @ayrastarr
• TikTok: @ayrastarr
• X (Twitter): @ayrastarr
• YouTube: Official channel

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