Lagos: Grammy-nominated Afrobeat superstar Ayra Starr has become the first Nigerian female artiste to hit one billion views on YouTube. The Mavin star girl announced the milestone in a post on her Instagram fan page, highlighting her growing global influence and the widespread appeal of her music.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the landmark achievement is largely propelled by her hit single ‘Rush,’ which alone has garnered over 458 million views. This new feat places her alongside Nigerian artistes such as Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Davido, and Omah Lay, who have also surpassed a billion total views on YouTube. Other Nigerian artistes who have hit the one billion YouTube milestone include Kizz Daniel, Tekno, P-Square, Flavour, and Fireboy.
The 22-year-old singer, also known as ‘sabi girl,’ has continued to receive both local and international accolades since her debut in 2021. Ayra Starr is among the top most followed African artistes on Spotify, with over 4.8 million followers.
Her Grammy-nominated track ‘Rush’ has significantly boosted her popularity and global reach, with over 450 million views. Earlier in May, she earned the prestigious Platinum Certification in the United Kingdom for ‘Rush,’ having surpassed 600,000 units in combined sales and streams. The hit song marked her debut on the UK Official Top 100, solidifying her status as one of the most sought-after African music artistes.
In 2023, Ayra also earned a Diamond Certification in France for ‘Rush,’ which was released in September 2022 and quickly gained viral success. The track charted in the top ten across several countries, contributing to her first Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. ‘Rush’ has achieved platinum status in Canada and New Zealand, and 3-time Platinum in Nigeria, further demonstrating its widespread acclaim and commercial success.