As a Nigerian woman, two things are certain in life: people giving unsolicited opinions about your outfit, or even more crazy, a man telling you 鈥渉e has your type at home鈥�. Over the past weekend on Twitter, the former happened.

Ene Anabelle Ajogwu, an Affiliate marketer gave a presentation at the Mainstack Moment 2026 conference wearing a short skirt suit, and that was all it took for the Nigerian side of the internet to lose their collective shit.

Some argued that it was a corporate event and that she should have dressed 鈥減rofessionally.鈥� Others countered that it was a creator event and she should be able to wear what she wanted.

But the argument quickly moved beyond the event itself and became what these conversations always become about: a woman鈥檚 body and how she chooses to dress. And this points to a broader conversation to be had about why people feel entitled to police how women dress.

People on Beyonce鈥檚 internet have a habit of turning women鈥檚 appearances into public debates. You see it happen with celebrities all the time. Take Ayra Starr, for instance.  She showed up to a recent interview sporting dark and dramatic eye makeup  and that was somehow enough to upset people.

There were hundreds of incensed comments about how she looked tacky, which is frankly insane. How does someone trying a new makeup look trigger you that much?

It鈥檚 even funnier when you remember how hard people criticized her during her mini-skirt era, complaining about her revealing outfits  and what message she was sending to young women. You鈥檇 think they鈥檇 be happy now that her style has morphed into something arguably more modest. Spoiler: They鈥檙e not and still have a lot of rubbish to say. And that鈥檚 the thing about these debates. You鈥檙e damned if you do and damned if you don鈥檛 because the mob is insatiable.

There鈥檚 also the respectability politics of it all.  Many people genuinely believe that how a woman dresses reflects on her profession or the space she deserves to occupy. If a woman is in  a corporate space, she must dress in a way that protects the image of that space. Just like that, her outfit becomes less about personal style and more about representing something larger. 

That鈥檚 another thing about respectability politics. The goalpost is always moving. If you dress too modestly, you鈥檙e uptight and old fashioned. Dress in a way that shows your body and you鈥檙e an attention seeker with no self-respect.  There鈥檚 literally no middle ground because at the end of the day, it is less about the clothes and more about entitlement to women鈥檚 bodies. 

In a country like Nigeria where Christian and Muslim teachings strongly emphasize modesty, clothing is often interpreted through a moral lens. A short skirt is not just a short skirt. It is a litmus test for morality.

And then there is social media itself which acts as a lit fuse. Once one person starts the backlash, everyone else feels the need to add their own fuel to the fire. In a world where Elon鈥檚 Twitter payouts are  treated like the holy grail, the platform鈥檚 average user鈥檚 pastime has turned into piling on random people, even when it鈥檚 none of their business. 

And that is how a woman giving a presentation at a conference ends up having thousands of strangers debating the length of her skirt. The exhausting part is that these debates are a constant reminder that no matter what you accomplish or do as a woman, someone will find a way to reduce you to your appearance. 

Maybe the reason is simpler than we want to admit. All this is fundamentally about control. People are obsessed with controlling women. What they do. How they dress. What they choose to do with their bodies. 

It鈥檚 truly insane and needs to stop.

ALSO READ: Nigeria Has a Woman Problem, and It鈥檚 Getting Worse

But while the internet debates who鈥檚 copying who, her OG fans know that Ayra Starr has never shied away from carving her own unique fashion identity, heavily tapping into the re-emerging Y2K culture and modern alte fashion.

So, is she being influenced by Tyla, or has this always been her style? We dived deep into her fashion choices throughout the year to find out.

Here is Ayra Star鈥檚 fashion evolution.

2021 鈥� Gen-Z Y2K era

When she burst on the scene with 鈥淎way,鈥� Ayra鈥檚 early looks were classic Gen-Z coded fits, featuring crop tops, really short skirts and thigh-high boots. Everything you鈥檇 expect from a 2000s Nollywood baddie, you might see her wear. 

Her sense of style also reflected her sound at the time: fresh, bold and experimental.

BTS photos of Ayra Starr on the set of the visuals for her song “SARE” in 2021

A still image of Ayra Starr from the visuals of “Away” in 2021

Ayra Starr poses for a picture in 2021

ALSO READ: I Look Like Ayra Starr鈥擝ut People Keep Calling Me a Catfish

2022 鈥� Finding her style

By mid-2022, her sound was crossing borders, and Ayra had cemented herself as a true breakout star. She doubled down on the Gen-Z ambassador look, which many of her core following had come to love. 

Either she was performing on stage, or on the red carpet at events, she was sure to strut out in teeny shorts, micro skirts, and cutout tops, often pairing them with funky sneakers or combat boots.

Ayra Starr at the Headies Awards in Atlanta in 2022

Ayra Starr at the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever European Premiere in 2022 in London

Ayra Starr at The Fashion Awards in 2022 in London

2023 鈥� Making fashion statements

As 2023 kicked off, her style began to mature. After all, it was the year she turned 21. She refined her look and began to rock more high-end designers. While she still donned miniskirts and crop tops while performing on stage, she was more interested in making fashion statements.

 Ayra Starr shows up for an interview at SiriusXM Studios in 2023 in New York City

 Ayra Starr at the 2023 REVOLVE Festival in California

Ayra Starr at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards in New Jersey

2024 鈥� The new Ayra Starr

By 2024, she had become a global star, and her fashion was beginning to reflect this. She went from attending fashion shows in Paris to walking the red carpet at big music events like the Grammy Awards. At the Grammys, she stunned in a hand-beaded turquoise J脡BLANC two-piece, a far cry from the early schoolgirl miniskirts we first knew her in. Yet the look is 100% Ayra. 

Ayra Starr at the 66th GRAMMY Awards in California in 2024

Ayra Starr at Variety’s 2024 Power of Women: New York event

Ayra Starr at the Business of Fashion BoF 500 Class of 2024 during Paris Fashion Week

Ayra Starr at the 2024 Glamour Women of the Year Awards in New York

2025 鈥� Becoming a style icon

In 2025, we see an Ayra that doesn鈥檛 need to prove anything. Her look at the MET Gala in May was proof of this. She looked more relaxed and less interested in impressing. It was a polarising look, with some expecting a stronger outfit. But ultimately, she felt comfortable enough to be at the event.

Ayra Starr at the 2025 MOBO Awards in February

Ayra Starr at the 2025 MET Gala in May

The teaser for Ayra Starr鈥檚 new single, 鈥淗ot Body鈥�

ALSO READ: What鈥檚 That Smell? It鈥檚 Not Ayra Starr, It鈥檚 Misogyny

If that sounds absurd, it鈥檚 because it is 鈥� but it鈥檚 also familiar. Women who defy expectations have long been slapped with the 鈥渄irty girl鈥� label, a last-ditch attempt to shame them into silence or submission.

It鈥檚 a pattern I鈥檝e seen play out since childhood. 

At 10, I had an outspoken classmate who never let the boys dominate the 鈥渂oys are better than girls鈥� debate. Like many of us, she probably had never done her own laundry, and her uniform sometimes had oil stains. Still, it wasn鈥檛 her hygiene that made kids dub her a 鈥渄irty girl,鈥� it was her refusal to shrink herself. Zoom out, and we were all sweaty, messy preteens, but only she got marked.听

This shaming tactic isn鈥檛 confined to playgrounds 鈥� it shows up in pop culture too. 

In , Dumebi the Dirty Girl, Mercy Johnson plays Dumebi, a loud, proud pastor鈥檚 daughter who refuses to conform to village expectations. After she gets pregnant by a city visitor, Frank (Kenneth Okonkwo) and moves in with him, she clashes with his fianc茅e (Nuella Njubigbo), who sneers that Dumebi 鈥渄oesn鈥檛 know how to douche.鈥� The insult is revealing: it has little to do with actual hygiene, and everything to do with punishing Dumebi鈥檚 nonconformity and sexual independence.

Ayra Starr鈥檚 case fits this pattern. Her short skirts have long been a target, with critics trying (and failing) to pressure her into covering up. Now, the accusation that she smells feels like the ultimate effort to shame her into submission.

A clip from her 鈥溾�� , where Wizkid makes a funny face near her, has been offered as 鈥減roof鈥� that she smells. An old photo with Rihanna, where the singer puts her hand over her nose, is adding fuel to the baseless narrative. Ayra, for her part, has largely shrugged off the noise, focusing instead on her music and milestones.

It鈥檚 telling (and deeply frustrating) that hours after Ayra鈥檚 major achievement, the internet rushed to humble her 鈥� not with critiques of her talent, but with schoolyard-level taunts designed to humiliate.  

We鈥檝e seen this tired script before. Tacha Akide of Big Brother Naija, known for her fiery personality, was also hit with 鈥渟melling鈥� rumours, even getting mocked by Zlatan in a song. Activist Aisha Yesufu, after a public clash with Seun Kuti last year, was also accused of 鈥渟melling.鈥�

ALSO READ: The Rise of the Uzama Brothers: How Edo Rap Took Over Nigeria

What unites these women? They are outspoken, unapologetic, and visible in public life. 

Claims like 鈥渟he smells鈥� are rarely about truth. They鈥檙e about casting women as unclean, undesirable, or unfeminine 鈥� traits society weaponises to strip them of influence or credibility. Unlike critiques of skill, accusations about smell are visceral; they bypass logic and go straight for humiliation.

Many of these women 鈥� Tacha, Yesufu, and now Ayra Starr 鈥� were asserting themselves in public spaces when the accusations surfaced. That鈥檚 no coincidence. Smell accusations aren鈥檛 random; they鈥檙e reactions to women who refuse to shrink themselves.

By the end of Dumebi the Dirty Girl, Dumebi finds a new man and begins to soften. Her loud, opinionated self is finally tamed, and only then does Frank decide she鈥檚 desirable. Did the 鈥渟mell鈥� go away? Did she finally learn to douche? How did she stop being a 鈥渄irty girl鈥�?

It becomes clear: it was never about being dirty 鈥� it was always about conformity. And as Ayra Starr鈥檚 rise shows, you can鈥檛 silence a woman who refuses to shrink.

ALSO READ: Will Female Sexual Liberation in Nigerian Music Ever Have a Champion Like St. Janet?

Since then, Favour鈥檚 life has changed. A tech enthusiast, she is active online, particularly on X, where she has cultivated a following. More than once, she has been dragged for being a catfish of She says she doesn鈥檛 lean into the resemblance, but it doesn’t help either that her name on X has been 鈥淪abi Girl鈥� (Ayra鈥檚 Starr鈥檚 nickname) for a while.

In an interview with 91大神, she opened up about the ups and downs of looking like one of Nigeria鈥檚 biggest stars, why she doesn’t want to be called a catfish, and how she navigates life online.

This is Favour鈥檚 story as told to Dennis

It could have been just any other regular day at my house. My mother was watching TV in the sitting room, and I was tucked away on my phone, most likely on X (formerly Twitter). Then she called me. If I’m being honest, she didn鈥檛 just call out my name 鈥� she screamed it.

She was sure of what she was about to say. She had seen me on TV. It had to be me. She was certain. 

I laughed. Because even though my mother thought it was me, and even though I stood there thinking this could be me, I knew it wasn鈥檛.

It was Ayra Starr, and she was in an advert for the hair brand Darling Nigeria. At the time, she was still coming up. The world was getting to know her. I already knew her and was a fan of her music. That was the first time someone told me I looked like Ayra Starr. It wouldn鈥檛 be the last.

ALSO READ: Ayra Starr鈥檚 Fashion Evolution: From Y2K Aesthetic to Style Icon

I don’t actually see the resemblance, but I think that is common with most people who are told they look like celebrities. Many don鈥檛 see it. But from what I鈥檝e noticed, the resemblance must be striking鈥攕o much so that it has opened doors for me.

I鈥檝e gotten jobs just because I look like Ayra Starr. I鈥檓 currently studying Mass Communication at the University of Calabar, but I鈥檓 also an influencer on X. There have been instances where people offered me influencing gigs for looking like her. I have modelled for an eyelash technician, a lip care brand and a skincare brand. They all highlighted my resemblance to Ayra Starr. I guess they expected to sell more because I looked like her. It鈥檚 experiences like those that make looking like a celebrity worth your while. 

I don鈥檛 lean into it, but I see why someone might think I do, even if just for fun. For a while now, my name on X has been Sabi Girl. It is also an expression I use frequently in tweets I post. Obviously, she sang 鈥淪ability,鈥� and also has called herself 鈥淪abi Girl鈥� many times. But it is because I am a fan of her music that I use it, like some of her other fans do. 

I have never met her, but I want to. I know it would be a great delight to meet her.

That being said, my experience as a celebrity lookalike hasn’t been all positive. There have been people who鈥檝e dragged me for filth, claiming I was an Ayra Starr catfish account. I don’t mean this in a funny, wild fan kind of way. I mean dragged in the way that people get dragged on social media. I see them randomly in my replies. There have been people who have slid into my DMs claiming I was an Ayra Starr catfish. Sometimes, people don鈥檛 follow the whole story or get to the root before joining in a pile-on. So even when they realise it鈥檚 just confusion, many have already checked out of the conversation. It鈥檚 really crazy. I鈥檓 just grateful none of it has gone viral.

When I started being active on X, this was not what I anticipated. I didn鈥檛 know that people would claim that I looked like a celebrity. I鈥檓 a tech enthusiast. I may not be able to code yet, but I like having fun on social media and just learning new things. I just want to graduate from university, grow and be the best version of myself.

91大神 readers are currently giving feedback about us this year. Join your voice to theirs by taking .

ALSO READ: I Went Viral for Looking Like Davido 鈥� Now I鈥檓 Paying the Price

Lagos, Nigeria, was a haven for music enthusiasts as it hosted a sensational four-day music festival. Nestled against the backdrop of its vibrant nightlife and rich cultural scene, Flytime Fest was a massive success, drawing 30,000 fans to its sold-out venue from December 22 to 25, with Gunna, Olamide, Davido, and Ayra Starr serving as the festival鈥檚 headliners.

Tyla, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Rema, Tiwa Savage, D’banj, Bnxn, Darkoo, Fireboy, Omah Lay, Fave, Ckay Odumodublvck, Shallipopi, Cobhams, and other performers were also on the bill. After the concert, Cecil Hammond, CEO of Flytime Promotions, reflected: 鈥淕unna injected a new vibe for such a diverse and wide-reaching festival. It brings us so much joy to see Lagos as the new destination spot and Flytime is excited to be part of this transformation. Flytime Fest 2024 was another dream realized, and we can鈥檛 wait to see how much the movement will have grown by the time we return again in 2025.鈥�

Gunna headlined the first night of Lagos鈥� Flytime Fest, a four-day music festival celebrating Africa and the African Diaspora that has previously hosted Megan Thee Stallion,Wizkid, Burna Boy, and more. Gunna hit the stage in front of a full crowd packing out Lagos鈥檚 Eko Convention Center, a premier entertainment venue in the bustling West African metropolis. After performing a slew of hits including 鈥淥ne of Wun,鈥� 鈥淒rip Too Hard,鈥� 鈥淔ukumean,鈥� and 鈥淵osemite,鈥� the beat to 鈥淛ump鈥� dropped as聽Tyla strutted out singing in a pilot鈥檚 cap, sequined mini skirt, and black bustier. 鈥淭hey ain鈥檛 never had a pretty girl from Joburg,鈥� she purred as fans screamed.

Gunna headline set capped Flytime Fest鈥檚 Coca Cola Rhythm Unplugged concert that served as the festival鈥檚 first night. Rhythm Unplugged is a two-decade tradition that has helped break Nigerian talent like Tems and brought global acts like Ja Rule and Ashanti to the country. 

As the show continued, the electrifying presence of Burna Boy took center stage, igniting a frenzy among fans who eagerly battled for the prime spots closest to the stage. His single, 鈥淪ittin鈥� On Top Of The World,鈥� was met with full support from the crowd and was followed by Dave鈥檚 鈥淟ocation,鈥� 鈥淟ast Last,鈥� and an energetic performance of 鈥淵e.鈥� among others.

Day 2 saw Nigerian rap artist Olamide headline his three-hour long set that felt like a celebration of Nigerian music. The crowd was treated to surprise guest appearances from global superstars Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Fireboy DML,Wande Coal, Phyno, and Pheelz, turning the night into a spontaneous celebration of Afrobeats at its finest. The crowd went wild for Wizkid, who took his time and performed a slew of hits, including 鈥淜ese,鈥� 鈥淓ssence,鈥� and Drake鈥檚 鈥淥ne Dance.鈥� Starting from the very middle of the stage on an enormous platform, he gradually moved closer to the audience with each song, to their inexplicable delight.

Olamide performed a medley of his chart-topping hits, including “Melo Melo,” “Durosoke,” “Triumphant” with Bella Schmurda, and the crowd-favorite “habibi.”

Davido took the stage on Day 3, delivering a set full of his biggest hits, including “Aye,” “Unavailable,” and “Kante,” his chart-topping collaboration with Fave.听 A mix of high-energy anthems and intimate moments kept the crowd on their feet, while Odumodublvck joined him onstage for a thrilling live rendition of “Funds.” To cap off the night, DJ Dope Caesar brought the crowd to a frenzy with her high-energy DJ set, ensuring the energy remained high long after the final act.

The final night of the festival was headlined by Ayra Starr, whose high-octane performance showcased hits like “Away” and “Sability,” along with tracks from her critically acclaimed album The Year I Turned 21. But it wasn鈥檛 just Ayra who got the crowd moving. Rema, one of the fastest rising stars in Afrobeats, made a surprise appearance, delivering pulse-pounding performances of “Ozeba” and “Azaman.” The surprises didn鈥檛 stop there 鈥� a rare duet between Tiwa Savage and Ayra Starr left fans speechless, showcasing the timeless appeal of Nigerian female talent

Flytime Fest 2024 also featured an emotional tribute to the history of the festival with a special photo collage celebrating 贵濒测迟颈尘别鈥檚 20-year journey. From its humble beginnings in 2004 to becoming a global phenomenon, the images reminded the audience of how far the Afrobeats movement has come and how much it has shaped the sound of modern music. 

Flytime Festival will return for its twenty-first edition in December 2025.

The photographer and the founder of the streetwear community , , were part of the 2024 BoF500 class, its annual 鈥渓ist of people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.鈥�

While the event was underway, Nigerians at Paris Fashion Week decided to seize the opportunity to pepper everybody, posting bestie photos with The Bear star Ayo Edebiri, and sharing clips of Wizkid as he performed live at the after-party. 

See below all the Nigerians who made the BoF500 Gala a full-blown Naija-to-the-world affair:

Ayra Starr

Wizkid

Ayo Edebiri

Stephen Tayo

Grace Ladoja

Iretidayo Zaccheaus

Reni Folawiyo

Irene Ojo-felix

Wisdom Kaye

Swanky Jerry

Eniafe Momodu

Ugo Mozie

Elizabeth Elohor Isiorho

and become that person in your WhatsApp group who always has the inside gist. Thank us later.

Inching close to being the hottest Afrobeats artists of 2024 (so far), their new albums are meant to offer something rewarding. Here are nine subtle lessons that listeners draw from their long-awaited albums.

Dodging bad energy is serious work

You can鈥檛 avoid bad-belle people entirely. The only way to become a no-nonsense pro max is intentionally and consistently telling them off like Ayra Starr and Tems did on their new albums (鈥淭he Year I Turned 21鈥� and 鈥淏orn in the Wild鈥�). From Ayra’s Birds Sing of Money, Goodbye and Bad Vibes songs to Tems’ Wickedest and Unfortunate, they set a big “fuck you” tone for bad energy dealers.听

Rollout is MOTHER!

Your business service is a product, and to attract target users and customers, you need engaging content that not only attracts but also gets them talking. That’s what Ayra Starr and Tems did. They were in everyone’s faces. Ayra’s album appeared on Chowdeck and some Nigerian bank apps, and users were urged to listen. Tems put out announcement visuals and even threw a party for music listeners and industry players a day before her album release. These babes put their new albums on everyone’s lips.

Good kids make happy parents

Ayra’s and Tems’ mums appeared on their albums to contribute to their process and album narratives and motivate them. These emotional features prove that parental support is just as crucial as making parents proud.

Always enjoy yourself

You don’t have to be told this, but you need a reminder to enjoy what you work hard for and have a good time sometimes. Somebody play Ayra’s Commas, Control, Jazzy鈥檚 Song and Tems’ Wickedest, Turn Me Up and T-Unit and turn the fuck up.

Never leave your squad behind

Carrying all your real ones with you (including sharing opportunities) shows that you value your friendship and are proud of it. This is how Ayra Starr feels in Woman Commando.

Women are the biggest gangstas

On Bird Sings of Money, Ayra says her past experiences have toughened her up in the trait of a gangster. She even made Woman Commando, and Tems made Gangsta. When the other gender is back on top, you’ll get the memo or not. For now, new lords are in town.

Never hesitate to throw toxic lovers away

Don’t wait for your toxic partners to fly their red flags before you throw them out like bath water. You better get necessary updates from Tems’ Unfortunate and Ayra Starr’s Goodbye (Warm Up).

You’re your biggest motivator

It’s okay to be sad or cry. But when a horse knocks you to dust, pick yourself up and push yourself to be better until you can ride it with a flex like Ayra on Last Heartbreak Song and 1942 and Tems on Burning and Hold On.

Forever be a dream chaser.

Ayra wanted to be a pop star before 16, but it only happened when she turned 19. Now she’s 21 and global. Tems had a 9-5 for a while but didn’t let her music dream die.

Album Review: Tems Finds Optimism After the Wild

Ayra Starr turned 21 in 2023. But like stars, her reflection is in retrospect. Hence, her second album, 鈥淭he Year I Turned 21鈥� (TYIT21), appears a year later, aligning perfectly with her birthday. In notice of this, her age-themed albums draw a specific parallel to the British music icon Adele. One can argue that Ayra Starr’s music and sonic concerns are different, but the universality of the experience of marking youth and independence is intact.

Age 21 was also a year of many firsts for Ayra. She came into 2023 with Sability and ended the year with appearances on two American movie soundtrack albums (Creed 3 and SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE) and a posthumous album of the legendary Bob Marley. She went on her first world tour. She was named Amazon’s Breakthrough Artist of 2023. for the first time at Rema’s 鈥淩avage Uprising鈥� show. A title doesn’t get more specific. 鈥淭he Year I Turned 21鈥� is a more profound title than a chronological buildup on her 鈥�19 & Dangerous鈥� debut.

Now enjoying some career moments that surpass most of her predecessors’, conversations about Ayra’s music shift her to a trajectory that may transcend her into Afropop’s matriarch. Alongside Tems, she’s the anointed leader of the new uprising of female Afropop singers. These favourable speculations are fever pitches as her quick conferment majorly rests on the merits and success of her sophomore album.

The music is saying鈥�

鈥淚 learned to be gangster, way from these dark times,鈥� Ayra shares in Birds Sing of Money, opener of 鈥淭YIT21.鈥� She spends the rest of the album owning that fearless identity, finding and defining what it means for her to be 21. How does she separate a fugazi from true love, independent versus dependent? Does she want to express freedom or curb enthusiasm, be a baby or face adulthood, keep her guard up or be a goofy youth, be a people-pleaser or live carefree, workaholism or chill and enjoy the fruits of labour?

Ayra’s music blends styles 鈥� afrobeats, hip-hop, pop, R&B, ragga, dancehall, house, amapiano, indie folk 鈥� to probe her conflicting feelings. She plasters them all against the backdrop of her career, expanding celebrity and blooming 20s. Her lyrics can be saccharine, but don’t get to a conventional bore. 

With numerous global achievements just four years into her music career, Ayra has built her universe so high that the chant on Birds Song of Money ceremoniously likens her to the stars that light up the night. Forty seconds into the song, whose also uneasy but organised violin, heavy hip-hop drums, breezy strings, chiming chords, and reggae undertones thump with a threatening assertiveness, yet it鈥檚 also calm and composed, one marvels at the pure sonic mastery. Fantastic production by London and Marvey Again.

Her melodies are flexible, as is the boomeranging flow she spins on the P2J-produced Goodbye (Warm Up), featuring Asake. Ayra shows a toxic partner the door out, while Asake plays the heartbroken, self-righteous partner who lowkey won’t let go. His verse鈥檚 almost introspective that it convinces chronic gossip blog readers that it’s likely his response to his recently broken relationship. Ayra and Asake share chemistry, but this song’s strangely a mellow track hatched for the TikTok girlies and intimate parties like where she previewed the song in April.

The already-released Commas sports an upbeat composition, interestingly just a tone and pitch away from Tekno’s Peace of Mind. Exchange ataraxis for financial merit, and you have a testament to Ayra’s increasing multiple-stream incomes and quality mindset. Commas has joyful production and melodies, though those overshadow its simplistic message that charges listeners to fight dirty for their dreams if they have to. All there is to know about the commitment to excellence is in her lines: 鈥淒reams come true, if na fight / Fight the fight, make you no go tire / Fire dey go.鈥� Perhaps it鈥檚 why it took fifteen versions and three producers (Ragee, London and AOD) to get the officially released Commas, during a recent sit-down with Billboard.

鈥淐ommitment to excellence鈥� is a watchword she carries to her interviews these days. An evidence of that is her passage into the global music scene that fully unlocked after her appearance at the 66th Grammy Awards, where she was an inaugural nominee for the Best African Music Performance category. Put that moment into a lyrics generator, and Drake’s 鈥淪tarted from the bottom, now here we here鈥� will pop up. She was excited to be there. So were the Western press and industry players warmed up to the new African music star girl. But frankly, her trajectory to own a seat among existing envelope-pushers like Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, and Simi has taken shape since her savvy, critically acclaimed 2022 鈥�19 & Dangerous鈥� debut album. It has a few national hits that pushed her over to international eyesight.

In Woman Commando, featuring Anitta (Brazil) and Coco Jones (U.S.), Ayra brags about flexing her squad and carrying everyone along, sounding confident and pleased as the production reverberates Ragee’s bass-heavy house instrumental. It’s a straight jam.

The album’s upbeat energy descends as Ayra segues into a lover’s mood. She flirts in Control, which interpolates Shakira’s Hips Don’t Lie, and she鈥檚 tipsy and ebullient on a potential one-night stand. She opens herself up to emotional attachment, but it soon gets tiring on the Lagos Love Story that sounds like a love song that’s trying too hard. It鈥檚 mechanical and an unnecessary segue into the lively Rhythm & Blues (produced by Sparrq).

On 21, the album’s theme song, the weight of emotional distress, adulthood, self-reliance, boundaries and (it goes without saying) enjoying the fruits of her hard work weighs on her. It鈥檚 a niggle of new baggage, not a pity cry. When Ayra’s on an R&B production, her command of her emotions grip. It’s no surprise she’s convinced she writes better sad songs. This production by Fwdslxsh, KillSept and Mike Hector is a convincing ambience. Hopefully, an R&B album is in her future.

It gets fragile on Last Heartbreak Song. Ayra throws away a one-sided love while American brittle-baritone vocalist Giveon chides himself for letting a real love slip away. This song dates back to the 鈥�19 & Dangerous鈥� recording session with Loudaa, but is there a heartbreak song that retains the prospect of intimacy? It’s the Last Heartbeat Song.

Still laid-back, Mystro takes on the next production. Bad Vibez featuring Seyi Vibez slides us back to Afropop. It鈥檚 bouncing over a plush R&B ballad to ward off negative energy, likely the internet moralists that police her short skirts and experimental fashion. It’s an exciting collaboration that elitist listeners would enjoy if they were open-minded to the magic of street-pop. To close out the song, she rhymes that she’s still eating off her last hit. It makes an arguable case for the boldest line in Afrobeats in recent times since Asake’s 鈥淚 know I just blow, but I know my set.鈥�

The songs hop from youthful exuberance to love matters and mental well-being. As Ayra presents herself as a success model, she also grounds herself in her reality as a curious adolescent who knows she has time to learn from more mistakes and has her whole life ahead of her. 

Orun is a cry to the heavens. It’s as evocative about personal longings and celebrity pressure as it鈥檚 declarative about forging ahead, past mistakes, and regrets. It’s a confessional, mezzo-forte track that draws hips into a slow whine. 

Jazzy’s Song (cooked by PPriime) comes next, and it’s a turn-up song that unexpectedly samples Wande Coal’s You Bad and alludes to it as Don Jazzy’s likely favourite song rather than a tribute to her jolly label boss and influential music producer. Indeed, it’s a hit but feels out of place between two mid-tempo, emotionally charged tracks. This arrangement hardly lets listeners fully unpack and tie up emotions. It throws the listener in the middle of mood swings.

She trusts Johnny Drill to soundtrack the following 1942. It鈥檚 a delicate cut that expresses Ayra’s and her brother Milar鈥檚 fear of losing everything they’ve worked hard for. Their duality picks up here: the despair of loss drowns them in a pool of liquor, but they still hold to their faith like an anchor.

The closing track is a letter to her late dad, hoping she鈥檚 making him proud. Ayra’s mum’s voice starts the song by encouraging Ayra to live a full life. Her siblings also recount their ages and strides. One can hear the pain and pride in their voices, the kind that desperately hopes that their departed one sees what they’re making out of themselves. The song, produced by Remdolla, echoes out with a proud statement from Ayra’s mum that translates to the track鈥檚 title: The Kids Are Alright. 

Conclusion

The bonus song, Santa, thematically has no place on this album. It’s just an expansion and numbers strategy that’ll drive up streams and cement Ayra as the first female Nigerian artist to hit on Spotify. Get your money, girl!

Looking outside in, being young and successful is one of the coolest things one can be, but it can also be an overwhelming position. Aside from squaring with life and the natural struggle to maintain success, being a female recording and performing artist means working multiple times harder and smarter than the other gender. If this is the evolution of the girl superstar who was once 19 and dangerous, it’s partially true. Most of her story thrives in gaiety, youthful innocence, vulnerability and self-affirmation.

With 15 songs, 鈥淭YIT21鈥� arrives as a lengthy, nuanced moment Ayra’s having with herself. Rather than a conceptual and narrative album, it’s a string of songs linked by recurring themes: heartbreak and love, happiness and melancholy, openness and boundaries, self-promise and tributes. This is the music you get when endeavouring to memento vivere because personal moments are fleeting, fond memories become distant, and emotions get unhealthily managed. This is the music that makes Ayra feel 21. It’s tough to say the same for the listeners, though.

Compared with her coming-of-age 鈥�19 and Dangerous鈥�, 鈥淭he Year I Turned 21鈥� is her most poignant and impressive work 鈥� an album of the year contender. Throughout the album, Ayra stays the dominant voice, in control. Its writing is sustainable, production is high-value, and there’s no Americanisation of the features. It’s just real and bad Afrobeats music. Although the arrangement could have been smoother, not moving tempo to tempo without consistently keeping the listener grounded.

鈥淭YIT21鈥� would garner facile praise and embrace, considering its Zeitgeist hype, convincing rollout, major anticipation, and the currently uninspiring music year. But it鈥檇 need time to find its place as that crowning sophomore. This is subjectively a premature evaluation anyway.

According to Polish poet Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, youth is the gift of nature; age is a work of art. Hopefully, Ayra Starr continues to stay alive to her feelings, with more virtuosos to craft them into songs at every juncture of her life.

If You’re Trying to Get Into Arya’s Music, We Asked Chat GPT to Rank Some of Her Biggest Songs For You

Since AI likes to prove it knows shit, we decided to put it to the test and asked it to rank Ayra鈥檚 biggest songs since her debut single, Away.听

Diamond in The Rough (DITR)

AI decided to start with the most soul-searching number on this list. Released in 2021 as one of the singles off her self-titled EP, Ayra described this song as 鈥淎n Ode to Gen Z鈥�. It鈥檚 the kind of vulnerable track you鈥檒l put on if you鈥檝e exhausted your 鈥淕od abeg鈥� bundle as a young person living in Nigeria.

Sare

If you ever loved Orere Elejigbo by the Lijadu sisters, then you鈥檇 have been among those who were stunned into wonderment when Ayra sampled the song and put her spin to it in Sare, another song off her debut EP. This song is so fire, and it gave us a taste of what Sabi Girl had planned for the future. In almighty 2024, we can鈥檛 complain that it has a spot on this list.听

Fashion Killer

Have you ever seen a bad bitch who doesn鈥檛 burn you because of how dangerously hot she is? This bad bitch can鈥檛 relate, and this was exactly Ayra Starr鈥檚 message to the girlies in Fashion Killer. Off her debut EP, it remains an anthem in fashion shows across Africa. Ayra did that, and it appears AI realises the real by placing this song on this spot.听

Beggie Beggie

Ayra has had many successful collabos since she blew up, but who can ever forget her insane run with C-Kay on Beggie Beggie? If Away was the 鈥淢en are trash鈥� anthem, this track off Ayra鈥檚 19 and Dangerous debut album was the reminder that women can in fact be desperate lovers who want all the TLC from a man. With over 10m YouTube views today, it definitely deserves to be on this list.听

Away

Is it us or is artificial intelligence actually doing a thing with this ranking? Away had a mad grip on the girlies in 2021, and was the sickest 鈥淢en are trash鈥� anthem at the time. With rebellious lyrics like 鈥淵ou can never be the man I stan, You can never be the one for me. Take away your troubles. And leave me be,鈥� Ayra ate so bad.

Away made Ayra one of the resident 鈥渓andlords鈥� of the Apple Music chart in Nigeria, butting heads with . The song’s official music video currently has over 11 million YouTube views.

Rush

If there鈥檚 any Ayra Starr song that bangs with the same level of infectiousness when it dropped and now, it鈥檒l have to be Rush. In arguably her biggest hit to date, Ayra reminds us that we should focus our energy on chasing that paper and forget the haters, with lines like 鈥淢e no getty time for the hate and the bad energy. Got my mind on my money鈥� And boy, did we listen? Rush had such a successful run that it made history as the first solo song by a Nigerian female artist to hit 300 million views on YouTube.听

Bloody Samaritan

We鈥檝e all been waiting to see how Chat GPT will move for this spot, and it looks like it understood the assignment. Three years after Ayra blessed us with this, if Bloody Samaritan comes on right now, no one can look you in the eyes to yarn nonsense. With lines like 鈥淚鈥檓 a ticking dynamite鈥� and 鈥淭hem no fit kill my vibe鈥�, it’s the self-empowerment anthem we didn鈥檛 know we needed. 

The lead single off her 2021 debut album, 19 & Dangerous, shot Ayra into the global music space, with the iconic Kelly Rowland hopping on a remix. AI knows you can鈥檛 make a list of Ayra鈥檚 iconic songs and not include this one. 

If we task Chat GPT in another year or two, Commas, Rhythm and Blues, and Sability all 2022 to 2024 songs, should better make the list.

Take this quiz: Only True Starrs Can Match 8/10 Ayra Starr Lyrics To The Song