Biography
EARLY LIFE
Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe was born on June 14, 2002 in Cotonou, Bénin, and grew up in Cotonou and Lagos, Nigeria. She is Nigerian and of Yoruba heritage, with both parents from Kwara State. She was raised in a multilingual home, learning Yoruba and French in Bénin, and is fluent in English and Nigerian Pidgin. Frequent family relocations made forming lasting friendships difficult. The second of five children, she and her older brother Dami (born 2000) played music together, joined the school choir at ten, and began writing songs guided by their mother, a former singer. She attended Les Cours Sonou University in Cotonou, earning a BA in international relations and political science. During college, she turned to music as an escape from bullying, with her mother's support for her singing ambitions.
CAREER
Starr's early experience included a second-place finish on Nigerian television talent show Maltina Dance All. In August 2018, she signed with Quove Models, a Lagos-based modeling agency. In 2019, she began posting song covers and original music on social media, adopting the stage name 'Ayra Starr,' meaning 'woke and eye-opening'. In December 2019, Mavin Records founder Don Jazzy discovered her original song 'Damage' on Instagram, leading to her signing. She recorded at Mavin Studios throughout 2020. Her self-titled debut EP was released on January 22, 2021, topping Nigerian iTunes and Apple Music charts and gaining over 15 million streams. Her debut studio album, '19 & Dangerous,' followed on August 6, 2021. Its lead single, 'Bloody Samaritan,' made her the first solo female artist to reach number one on Nigeria's Top 50 chart. In 2024, she released her second album, 'The Year I Turned 21.' Ayra Starr has collaborated with artists such as Wizkid, David Guetta, Lil Durk, Chris Brown, Rauw Alejandro, and Coldplay. She is managed internationally by Jay-Z's Roc Nation, while remaining signed to Mavin Records for music releases. In 2024, she made her acting debut, appearing in the Nollywood film Christmas in Lagos.
PERSONAL LIFE
Ayra Starr is the second of five children: Dami, Ade, Tolulope, and Jesutunmise. She has openly supported LGBTQ+ issues, affirming her music is for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, and embracing LGBTQ+ fans at concerts, which sparked mixed reactions in Nigeria. In November 2025, she relocated to New York City, explaining her move as an intuitive connection to the city and a desire to broaden her sound while carrying her culture and Afrobeats identity globally. In December, she launched a Substack newsletter, sharing personal essays about adjusting to New York, including feelings of loneliness and the city's winter climate.
Filmography
No filmography available for this person yet.
Box Office
Weekly Top Grossing3 Cold Dishes
₦5,331,351.00
Gingerrr
₦12,727,775.00
Gingerrr
₦21,139,500.00
The Herd
₦16,977,673.00
3 Cold Dishes
₦15,261,240.00
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Popularity Score
Top 99% of African actors
