Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has become the first African artiste to headline a National Football League (NFL) halftime show, delivering a performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The appearance marks a significant milestone in her international career and brings Nigerian music to one of American football’s major sporting platforms.
The Grammy-nominated singer entertained the crowd with a medley of songs from her catalogue, including ‘Rush’, ‘Santa’, ‘Heaven Baby’, ‘Hot Body’ and ‘Dangerous’. She also performed tracks from her latest project, ‘Starrgirl’, giving spectators a selection of music from different stages of her career.
The performance took place during the NFL’s Week Five fixture in London, where the Eagles faced the Jaguars.
Born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, Ayra Starr rose to prominence in 2021 following the success of her single ‘Bloody Samaritan’. The song helped establish her as one of the emerging voices in Nigeria’s music scene and laid the foundation for a career that has since attracted international attention.
She released her debut album, ‘19 & Dangerous’, in 2021, a project that helped strengthen her profile in the Nigerian music industry. In 2024, she followed it with ‘The Year I Turned 21’, further developing her sound and expanding her audience. Her latest project, Starrgirl, represents another stage in her evolving musical journey.
Although the halftime appearance is a notable career milestone, the longer term significance will depend on how such opportunities translate into sustained audience growth and further international bookings.
