Categories
Entertainment News

Ayra Starr Declares Wizkid, Tiwa Savage And Rema As The ‘Big 3’ Of Afrobeats

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has revealed the artists she considers the greatest Afrobeats stars of all time, commonly referred to as the “Afrobeats Big 3.”

In a recent interview with Hot 97 FM, Starr picked Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, and Rema as the greatest Afrobeats artists of all time.

The usual suspects Davido and Burna Boy, who are often tipped along with Wizkid as the Afrobeats Big 3, were conspicuously snubbed by Ayra Starr.

“My Afrobeats Big 3 would be Tiwa Savage, Wizkid and Rema. My solid Big 3,”
she said.

Meanwhile, Ayra Starr has revealed why she relocated from Nigeria to New York, disclosing that her friends and cultural proximity influenced her decision.

“I spent the last two summers in New York and last summer I lived in Hell’s Kitchen for about three months with my friends. We were watching American shows and movies. It was fun.

“Also, growing up, I had always wanted to come to America. So which city would I want to go? LA is too far, the time difference with Nigeria is nine hours. So, I chose New York,” she explained in an interview with Angela Yee.

Categories
Entertainment News

They’re Supportive, Very Confident – Ayra Starr Praises Nigerian Men After Backlash

Ayra Starr, the Afrobeats sensation, has expressed admiration and praise for Nigerian men.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Way Up with Angela Yee, Starr said Nigerian men are like New York men, supportive and very confident.

She, however, noted that she still had her reservations about Nigerian men, stressing that “men are still men.”

She said, “Nigerian men love to take care of their women. They are very supportive of their wife or girlfriend.

“They are very very confident, so it is almost the same thing as New York men. But you know, men are men. A man is a man still. It is universal thing.”

This is coming months after Ayra Starr faced heavy criticisms and backlash on social media from mostly Nigerian men, who argued that her social media feminism advocacy doesn’t align with her personality offline.

Her critics claimed that her enthusiastic reaction to meeting Chris Brown and her dance video to Naira Marley’s song did not align with her perceived feminist image.

She also previously faced criticism over her fashion sense.

Starr addressed the controversy regarding her fashion choices, telling critics in 2023 that they are not her “pastor” or “mother”.

Categories
Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Opens Up About Her Dilemma In Private Relationship

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has spoken about her private relationship, revealing that she is currently facing a dilemma over it.

Appearing in a recent episode of Rock Nation’s The Intern series, Starr revealed that her song ‘Where Do We Go’ was inspired by a private relationship and the dilemma of going public or not.

“‘Where Do We Go’ is inspired by a private relationship. Are we going to stay hidden or come out to the world? I’m kind of like in the middle so like where do we go,” she expressed.

Ayra Starr also revealed on the show that if she could intern for anyone it would be Rihanna.

“If I have to intern for anyone it would be Rihanna. I would get the coffee. Anything she wants me to do, I will do it,”
she said.

Starr has stated in several interviews in the past that Rihanna is her childhood idol and her main inspiration for going into music.

Categories
Entertainment News

I Want To Collaborate With Burna Boy – Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Opens Up

Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, the Nigerian singer, who is better known as Ayra Starr, has expressed her desire to collaborate with Burna Boy, identifying the Afrobeats star as the artiste she most wants to work with.

The music star made this known during a Billboard interview released on Thursday, January 29, 2026, while discussing her 2026 Grammy nominations with Love Island USA personality Chelley Bissainthe.

Ayra explained that even though she has worked with several artistes, Burna Boy remains her top choice for a future project.

“Everybody knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with.

“I’ve collaborated with a lot of people, and I still want to collaborate with many more people,” Ayra Starr said.

Ayra Starr, whose real name is Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, recently earned a Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category.

The nomination came from her song Gimme Dat, a collaboration with Wizkid that was released on April 25, 2025.

The full list of nominees was announced in November 2025 ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026.

Reacting to the nomination, the singer described the moment as comforting for her career.

She said it made her feel more confident about her talent and reminded her that she is on the right path.

According to her, while her first Grammy nomination felt shocking, the second one gave her inner peace and belief in her ability as an artiste.

Ayra also spoke about the making of Gimme Dat, revealing that she only learned about the song’s sample during recording.

The track draws from 911 by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige.

She explained that she was unaware of the song’s background until Don Jazzy pointed it out, which later pushed her to research and understand its origin.

She added that the recording experience became even more meaningful when she later discovered that the studio used for the session once belonged to Wyclef Jean.

According to her, the coincidence made the entire process feel purposeful.

The singer also opened up about challenges she faced while recording the song.

She said her voice was not in good shape on the first day, and even on the second day, she still struggled.

Despite this, she remained determined to deliver her best, relying on effort and studio support to achieve the final sound.

Ayra Starr further revealed that Gimme Dat was originally planned as a solo track.

She recorded the song several months before its release, long before Wizkid became part of the project.

She explained that once Wizkid joined, everything fell into place naturally and the timing felt right.

Categories
Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Was My Ex-Girlfriend’s School Daughter, I Discovered Her Talent – Ceeza Milli Says (Video)

Nigerian singer Ceeza Milli has claimed that he played a key role in discovering and nurturing the talent of fellow artist Ayra Starr.

Speaking in a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, Milli explained that he discovered Ayra Starr when he was dating a lady who was her school mother.

He also claimed that he was accommodated Ayra Starr, emphasising that the ‘Rush’ hitmaker can’t deny his impact on her career.

“When I discovered Ayra Starr, I wasn’t really paying attention to keeping artists but I like to watch artists grow… She can’t deny my impact on her career. I discovered her at a very young age.

“She was still in school then. She was my ex-girlfriend’s school daughter so she was even staying at my place a point,” he claimed.

Ayra Starr came into the spotlight with the release of her self-titled debut extended plays in January 2021 through Mavin Records.

Starr has previously revealed that Mavin boss, Don Jazzy contacted her in December 2019 after discovering her Instagram page where she shares her music.

Categories
Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Laments Of Loneliness And Cold Weeks After Relocating To New York

Ayra Starr, the Nigerian Afrobeats singer, has shared insights about her life in New York, weeks after moving from Lagos to the U.S. city following a management deal with Roc Nation.

In a new Substack post titled ‘I’m not scared, I promise,’ Starr got candid about loneliness and cold in New York, describing her apartment as “almost-empty” and the city as “a walk-in freezer.”

The singer revealed that sometimes she struggles with the regret of relocating.

“It’s so cold it feels like the city is actively trying to unalive my motivation. It’s the kind of cold that makes you realize happiness was just a summer hallucination, and I can’t stop the tiny voice at the back of my mind sarcastically saying, ‘Who sent you work?’”

Ayra Starr added that she would have been enjoying Detty December with her fellow citizens in Nigeria but she is stuck in the cold and loneliness of New York because she took a rebellious risk.

The ‘Rush’ crooner said she is now in her “nobody gets me era,” stressing that she no longer cares about proving herself to others.

Categories
Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer, Rema Throws Shade At Colleague, Ayra Starr For Relocating To New York

Popular Nigerian musician Rema has stirred online reactions after aiming a subtle dig at his close colleague and associate, Ayra Starr.

Earlier, 626Blaze reported that Ayra Starr, during a recent interview, confirmed her relocation abroad.

Reacting to the songstress’s relocation, Rema shared a cryptic post reflecting on the effect of financial success on community ties.

While referencing a Bible verse that urges people to love their neighbours, he wrote: “Love ur neighbor as yourself but once money land you change neighborhood. No wam”.

The post prompted an immediate response from Ayra Starr in the comment section.

Ayra Starr wrote: “Wait… Remyyyyy”.

Categories
Entertainment News

It Feels Like Home – Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Confirms She Has Moved To New York (Video)

Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, the Nigerian music sensation, who is better known as Ayra Starr, has confirmed that she has relocated to New York City.

The singer shared the update during a video call with Buck n Regg, explaining that while she has always spent significant time in the city, the move is now formal.

“Um, like less than a, like less than two months… officially,”
Ayra Starr said, adding that she has always felt connected to New York.

“I’m a New Yorker in my spirit. I feel it. New York reminds me so much of Lagos… there’s lots of Nigerians here, a huge African diaspora, so it feels like home.”

The statement confirms that Ayra Starr is not only traveling frequently but has also made New York her base, reflecting the growing presence of Nigerian artists in international music hubs.

Categories
Entertainment News

Nigerian Singer, Ayra Starr Storms Accra To Headline Tidal Rave Beach Festival (Video)

Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr arrived in Accra on Friday ahead of her headline performance at the Tidal Rave Beach Festival.

The 22-year-old singer, known for hits like Rush and Sabi Girl, was welcomed by excited fans at Kotoka International Airport as she shared her enthusiasm for the upcoming show.

Ayra Starr will headline the festival’s fifth edition at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel from November 14 to 15, performing alongside top Ghanaian acts including Black Sherif and Gyakie.

The annual event blends music, art, and beach experiences, drawing thousands of attendees to celebrate West African culture.

Categories
Entertainment News

Rema and Ayra Starr spark dating speculations as they lock lips

Celebrity singers, Rema and Ayra Starr have sparked excitement and dating rumours as they lock lips during their recent stage performance.

The duo delivered an electrifying performance after they took the stage at the Global Citizen Festival in New York.

In a video that was shared online, Rema and Ayra Starr were seen performing his hit track, ‘Calm Down’ to a crowd of fans that gathered to watch them.

 

After their stage performance, they briefly locked lips, stirring hysterical shriek from fans who were caught off guard and no doubt excited at the sudden turn the concert took.

 

Dating Speculations

Netizens have taken to comment sections to react to the video as they opined that the singers were probably dating singer they could share a kiss in full view of fans.

Although, neither Rema nor Ayra Starr has made any comments about whether they are now in a relationship, or still testing the proverbial waters.

 

@zaddyswanky who shared the video wrote:

 

“So Rema and Ayra Starr are dating!!😳

Is the kiss for me🥹”

Ayra Starr and Rema’s relationship

Ayra Starr had previously clarified her relationship with Rema, describing him as a friend who inspires her musically, and listens to her songs.

The duo had started out as artists under the same record label, Marvin Records.

Watch the video below …

Here