Who is Ayra Starr?
Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. She is well known for her famous hits such as Away, Rush, Bloody Samaritan, commas, Sability, among other songs. Ayra is known for combining Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B, and contemporary pop.
Ayra Starr Biography at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real name | Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe |
| Stage name | Ayra Starr |
| Date of birth | June 14, 2002 |
| Age | 24 years old |
| Place of birth | Cotonou, Benin Republic |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter and performer |
| Genres | Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B and pop |
| Record label | Mavin Records |
| Education | International Relations and Political Science |
| Breakthrough year | 2021 |
| Breakthrough song | “Away” |
| Major international hit | “Rush” |
| Debut album | 19 & Dangerous |
| Second album | The Year I Turned 21 |
| Third album | Starr Girl |
| Grammy nominations | 2 |
| 2026 MOBO award | Best International Act |
| Relationship status | Not publicly confirmed |
What Is Ayra Starr’s Real Name?
Ayra Starr’s real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe. She adopted the professional name Ayra Starr when she began establishing her identity as a recording artist. The name has since become closely associated with her confident stage personality and her fan community, popularly known as the Starr Gang.
Ayra Starr’s Early Life and Childhood
Ayra Starr, whose birth name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, was born on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin Republic. She was raised in both Cotonou and Nigeria. Ayra is the second-born in a family of five children. Her family moved around during her childhood, but eventually, Lagos became the city most strongly associated with her upbringing. The city also played an important role in her development as an artist.
Music was part of Ayra Starr’s life from an early age. She became involved in singing while still a child and joined her school choir at around age 10. She also began writing songs with her brother Damilola, who would later become involved in music himself.
Ayra’s teenage years were not always easy. She has spoken about being bullied while growing up, particularly because of her appearance and age. Music eventually became a place where she could express herself and develop confidence.
Ayra Starr’s Education
Ayra Starr pursued higher education while developing her music career. She studied International Relations and Political Science at Les Cours Sonou University in Benin Republic.
Ayra Starr’s Career
Before music became her full-time career, Ayra Starr also had experience in fashion modeling. She began modeling as a teenager and was signed to Quove Model Management in 2018. During this period, she worked with fashion-related brands and appeared in creative projects.
Ayra Starr’s music career began professionally in 2019 when she posted cover songs. In the same year, Ayra Star posted an original song named Damage. She began recording with Mavin Studios in Lagos, Nigeria, after Don Jazzy, the founder of Mavin Records, discovered her online.
In January 2021, Ayra Starr released her debut EP through Mavin Records. The EP was self-Titled Ayra Starr. Her debut EP was the number one album on Apple Music and Nigeria iTunes. The EP’s single ‘Away’ was number 17 on US Billboard and number four on Nigeria’s TurnTable Top 50. The EP helped establish her as one of the new female artists to watch in Nigeria. It also set the stage for the release of her first full-length album later that year.
Ayra Starr’s Debut Album: 19 & Dangerous
Ayra Starr released her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous, in August 2021. The title reflected her age at the time and the attitude she wanted the project to represent. The album combined Afropop, R&B and other contemporary sounds. It included songs such as:
- “Away”
- “Bloody Samaritan”
- “Sare”
- “Fashion Killer”
- “Amin”
- “DITR”
The album helped move Ayra from promising newcomer to mainstream Nigerian star.
Ayra Starr’s Second Album: The Year I Turned 21
Ayra Starr released her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21, in May 2024. The album represented a different stage of her life. Instead of focusing solely on the youthful confidence that characterized some of her earlier work, the project explored growing up, relationships, heartbreak, and personal development. The album featured collaborations with artists including Giveon and others. Mavin Records described it as a coming-of-age record that showed a more personal side of Starr’s songwriting.
The album debuted at No. 195 on the Billboard 200, making Ayra Starr the first Nigerian artist to debut on that chart with an album.
Ayra Starr’s Third Album: Starr Girl
In 2026, Ayra Starr entered a new phase of her career with the release of her third studio album, Starr Girl. The album was released on August 14, 2026. It represents one of the biggest international expansions of her sound so far. Rather than limiting herself to Afrobeats, Starr explores Afropop, R&B, pop and dance-oriented sounds across the project.
The album includes collaborations with several international and African artists, including: Zayn Malik, Wizkid, Rema, Theodora, Kwn, Leon Thomas and Danny Ocean.
Ayra Starr and the Grammy Awards
Ayra Starr has received two Grammy nominations. Her first nomination came at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, where “Rush” was nominated for Best African Music Performance. She received another nomination at the 68th Grammy Awards in 2026, this time for “Gimme Dat,” featuring Wizkid, in the same category.
Ayra Starr’s Achievements and Awards
Ayra Starr has accumulated an impressive list of milestones in a relatively short career.
Among them are:
- Two Grammy nominations
- Two consecutive MOBO Awards for Best International Act
- A Billboard 200 album debut
- International touring
- Major Afrobeats and Afropop hits
- Recognition as one of Africa’s leading young female artists
- Major collaborations with artists such as Wizkid, Giveon and Zayn Malik
Her achievements are particularly notable considering that her professional breakthrough came only in 2021.