Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who has become one of the leading names in the new generation of African pop music. Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, she first gained attention through social media before being discovered by Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy and signed to the label in 2021.

Since her professional debut, Ayra Starr has developed an international audience through songs such as “Away,” “Bloody Samaritan,” “Rush,” “Sability,” “Commas,” and “Last Heartbreak Song.” Her music combines Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B and contemporary pop, while her songwriting frequently explores love, confidence, youth and personal experiences.

Early Life

Ayra Starr was born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe on June 14, 2002, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, to Nigerian parents from Kwara State. She grew up between Cotonou and Nigeria, including Lagos, as her family moved around because of her father’s business.

Music was already part of her life while she was growing up. At about 10 years old, she joined a school choir and began writing songs with her brother, Dami. Her family played an important role in nurturing her interest in music, with her mother particularly supportive of her artistic ambitions.

Before establishing herself as a recording artist, Ayra Starr also pursued modelling. She began modelling professionally as a teenager and worked with Quove Model Management in Lagos. During this period, she continued developing her interest in songwriting and performance.

She eventually began posting song covers and original material on Instagram. Her online performances attracted the attention of music executive Don Jazzy, who subsequently signed her to Mavin Records in 2021.

Age

Ayra Starr was born on June 14, 2002.

As of 2026, Ayra Starr is 24 years old.

Music

Ayra Starr officially entered the Nigerian music scene in 2021 with her self-titled debut EP, Ayra Starr. The project introduced her distinctive vocal style and included the song “Away,” which helped establish her as one of the promising new voices on the Nigerian music scene.

Later in 2021, she released her debut studio album, 19 & Dangerous. The project included songs such as “Bloody Samaritan,” “Away,” “Sare,” “DITR” and “Fashion Killer.”

“Bloody Samaritan” became one of the defining records of her early career and helped increase her visibility across Nigeria and other African markets.

Ayra Starr’s international breakthrough became more pronounced in 2022 with the release of “Rush.” The song became a major streaming success and entered charts in several countries. It subsequently earned her a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards.

In 2024, she released her second studio album, The Year I Turned 21. The album featured collaborations with artists including Wizkid, Giveon, Asake and Anitta, further expanding her reach beyond Africa. Mavin Records also reported that she became the first Nigerian female artist to debut on the Billboard 200 and the most-streamed Nigerian female artist on Spotify in 2024.

In 2026, Ayra Starr entered another phase of her career with the release of her third studio album, Starrgirl. Released on August 14, 2026, the 16-track project features international and African artists including ZAYN, Wizkid, Rema, Leon Thomas, kwn, Danny Ocean and Theodora.

One of the notable songs on the album is “Heaven Baby” featuring ZAYN, a piano-led collaboration that combines Ayra Starr’s Afropop delivery with ZAYN’s pop and R&B-influenced vocals.

Songs

Some of Ayra Starr’s notable songs include:

• Away
• Bloody Samaritan
• Rush
• Sability
• Stability
• Stamina
• Fashion Killer
• Sare
• DITR
• Rhythm & Blues
• Commas
• Last Heartbreak Song feat. Giveon
• 2 Sugar with Wizkid
• Gimme Dat with Wizkid
• Who’s Dat Girl? with Rema
• Heaven Baby feat. ZAYN
• Where Do We Go
• Hot Body
• All The Love

Her catalogue spans Afrobeats, Afropop, R&B and contemporary pop, helping her appeal to both African and international audiences.

Awards/Achievements

Ayra Starr has received recognition from several major music award organisations during her career.

She earned her first Grammy nomination for “Rush” in the Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Grammy Awards. She later received another Grammy nomination for “Gimme Dat” featuring Wizkid at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

In 2025, she won Best International Act at the MOBO Awards. She returned to the category in 2026 and won the award again, making it her second consecutive victory in the category.

Other recognitions associated with her career include awards and nominations from The Headies, BET Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, TurnTable Music Awards, African Muzik Magazine Awards and other African and international music institutions.

Her achievements also extend to streaming and chart performance. “Rush” became one of the most successful songs of her early career, while her 2024 album The Year I Turned 21 helped establish her as an increasingly international Afrobeats act.

Education

Ayra Starr attended Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou, Benin Republic, where she studied International Relations and Political Science and obtained a bachelor’s degree. Reports about her education state that she completed university at a notably young age.

Her educational background distinguishes her career story because she completed her university education before fully pursuing music professionally.

Net Worth

As of 2026, Ayra Starr’s estimated net worth is between $3 million and $5 million.

The estimate is associated with her growing music career, streaming royalties, live performances, touring, brand partnerships and other entertainment-related activities.

However, Ayra Starr has not publicly disclosed an official figure for her personal wealth, and there is no publicly available audited financial statement establishing her exact net worth. Some published estimates place her wealth lower, including estimates of approximately $1 million to $3 million.

Therefore, the $3 million–$5 million figure should be treated as an estimated 2026 range, not a confirmed net-worth figure.

Personal Life

Ayra Starr generally keeps many aspects of her personal life private and has focused much of her public profile on her music, fashion and international career.

Her family had an important influence on her development as an artist. She began singing and writing songs with her brother Dami when she was young, while her mother supported her ambition to become a professional singer.

Ayra Starr’s career has also been shaped by her experiences growing up between Benin Republic and Nigeria. These different cultural environments have contributed to the identity and sound she brings to her music.

By 2026, she had established herself as an internationally recognised Nigerian artist, with two Grammy nominations, multiple major awards and three studio albums, including Starrgirl.