For the second consecutive year, pop sensation Ayra Starr has secured the Best International Act title at the 2026 Music of Black Origin Awards.
The victory follows her landmark 2025 win, establishing her as the first African artiste to claim this prestigious international category back-to-back. The feat brings the 23-year-old singer’s career MOBO tally to three.
The 2026 ceremony, marking the awards’ 30th anniversary, was held on March 26 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, the first time the city has hosted the event.
The night celebrated the breadth of Black culture, spanning Afrobeats, R&B, hip-hop, and grime. In the International category, the Mavin star triumphed over a formidable global lineup including Cardi B, Tyla, Gunna, Kehlani, Vybz Kartel, Mariah the Scientist, Clipse, Leon Thomas, and Moliy. Starr was the sole Nigerian representative in this category this year.
While she was also nominated for Best African Music Act, she lost the title to fellow Nigerian heavyweight Wizkid, who emerged victorious against a shortlist featuring Davido, Rema, Tiwa Savage, and Adekunle Gold.
Other major winners included Olivia Dean, who dominated the night with Best Female Act, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year. Vybz Kartel took home Best Caribbean Music Act, while Pharrell Williams was honoured as Global Songwriter. The ceremony was hosted by Eve and Eddie Kadi, featuring performances from Wizkid and Tiwa Savage.
This latest accolade builds on Starr’s historic 2025 run, where she became the first African woman to win Best International Act and the first woman in 16 years to claim Best African Music Act in a single night.
Her ascent to this elite tier is largely attributed to the sustained global impact of her 2022 hit Rush, which became the most-watched music video by a Nigerian female artiste and earned a Grammy nomination.
The significance of her back-to-back win is further highlighted by the evolution of the MOBOs. The Best International Act category, which previously focused heavily on the US, has moved toward a unified global format. By defending her title, Starr has proven she can consistently compete against the entire global diaspora.
This international trajectory has been bolstered by the strategic partnership between Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, providing the infrastructure for her to stand alongside A-list talent on the world stage.
Afrobeats heavyweights Wizkid and Ayra Starr led a commanding presence at the awards, securing major wins that underscore the genre’s continued grip on the global cultural landscape.
Nigerian influence extended into the technical and digital spheres, with popular creator Niko Omilana named Best Media Personality, a testament to the blurring lines between traditional entertainment and digital influence, while the prolific P2J took home Best Producer, recognised for his sophisticated sonic contributions across R&B, pop, and Afrobeats genres.
British singer Olivia Dean was arguably the night’s biggest overall winner, sweeping three major categories: Best Female Act, Album of the Year for The Art of Loving, and Song of the Year for “Man I Need.” Other winners included Central Cee for Best Hip-Hop Act, Raye for Video of the Year, and FLO for Best R&B/Soul Act. Legendary producer Pharrell Williams was presented with the Global Songwriter Award, while hip-hop pioneer Slick Rick received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his enduring impact on the genre.
The 2026 MOBOs served as a testament to the borderless nature of modern music, where Nigerian artistes are no longer just guests at the table but among those setting the menu.
