THE CELESTIAL BEING

Nigerian sensation Ayra Starr is poised to become one of the most iconic artists of her generation. Despite being at the dawn of her music career, she’s already collaborating with renowned international artists and owns a string of chart-topping hits

- Anele Geqiwe

I GREW UP IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE FEW PEOPLE OPENLY EXPRESSED THEIR ASPIRATIONS, SO WHEN I FINALLY FOUND THE COURAGE TO ARTICULATE MY OWN, it made me feel uneasy and awkward. Despite not receiving any feedback, I could sense disapproval, as if someone was silently saying, who do you think you are? This is where Ayra Starr and I differ.

She was brought up in a household that encouraged her to dream big. ‘I was a very confident child, and I knew I would be a musician,’ Starr reminisces. ‘Even when I didn’t have any friends at school, I thought to myself, “do they even know that I’m going to be a superstar?”

‘Before I became famous, I wrote down the pros and cons of fame. I wrote about what I would do and how I would do it. I’ve been Ayra Starr since I was born. I was that annoying child who would tell everyone that I was going to be a superstar.’ From the moment the interview started, I could sense that ‘superstar’ energy. Her unwavering determination to chase her dreams was palpable and inspiring.

Starr is making waves with her soothing but captivating Afrobeats sounds, a genre that is gaining global popularity. ‘I’m currently living my dream in Los Angeles,’ she says.

Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, the 20-year-old songbird is only at the early stage of her musical career, but she has already developed a unique sound that seems to be in high demand. Growing up in Bénin and Nigeria, she was exposed to various cultures, each influencing her outlook on life and personality.