Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has made history as the first female artist from Nigeria to reach 1 billion total views on YouTube.
The 22-year-old singer, whose real name is Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, achieved this milestone largely thanks to her hit single “Rush,” which has gathered over 458 million views alone.
This was confirmed by the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, May 26, 2025.
Ayra Starr, who is signed to Mavin Records, is now part of an elite group of Nigerian artists like Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema, Omah Lay, Kizz Daniel, Tekno, P-Square, Flavour, and Fireboy DML, who have all crossed the 1 billion views mark on the platform.
Her fans proudly call her the “Sabi Girl,” and this recent success proves her strong presence not just in Nigeria, but across the world.
“Rush” did not only perform well on YouTube. It also earned Ayra Starr a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance and went platinum in the United Kingdom after surpassing 600,000 units in sales and streams.
The song has also received diamond certification in France, platinum in Canada and New Zealand, and 3× platinum in Nigeria.
“Rush” also marked her first appearance on the UK Official Top 100 chart, confirming her rising international fame.
Since her debut in 2021, Ayra Starr has grown rapidly. By May 2025, she has gained more than 4.8 million followers on Spotify, making her one of the most-followed African artists.
She is now the most streamed female artist in Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya on Spotify.
Ayra Starr’s journey continues to inspire many young women in music. Her record-breaking success shows that African female artists can make a big impact on the world stage.
