Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has become the first African artiste to headline the National Football League (NFL) halftime show, marking a milestone for African music on a major international sporting platform.
The Grammy-nominated star performed on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the halftime break of the NFL clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Starr’s performance combined her soulful vocals with energetic stagecraft as she treated the audience to some of her popular songs, including ‘Heaven Baby’, ‘Santa’, ‘Rush’, ‘Hot Body’ and ‘Dangerous’.
She also performed tracks from her latest album, ‘Starrgirl’, bringing her Afrobeats and pop catalogue to the NFL stage.
The appearance marked a significant moment for the singer, whose selection placed an African artiste at the centre of the entertainment programme accompanying one of American football’s international fixtures.
Speaking ahead of the show, the 24-year-old described the opportunity as more than a performance, highlighting the responsibility artistes carry when representing their culture and audience on global platforms.
“It’s a message,” she said, stressing that it is “very important” for artistes to make the most of such platforms.
“At the end of the day, as artists, we speak for the culture, and we speak for the people that listen to us,” she added. “And we have to represent any way that seems fit, that they need.
Born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, Starr first gained international prominence with her 2021 hit single ‘Bloody Samaritan’.
She has since grown into a prominent figure in the global music scene, earning several awards and nominations while expanding her audience beyond Nigeria.
Her previous projects include her debut album, ‘19 & Dangerous’, released in 2021, and its follow-up, ‘The Year I Turned 21’, which arrived in 2024.
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