Ayra Starr Makes History as First Nigerian Female Artist to Hit 1 Billion YouTube Views

Nigerian music star Ayra Starr has reached a groundbreaking milestone, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube. With this achievement, she now joins Afrobeats heavyweights Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Davido in the elite global streaming club.

At the heart of this success is her breakout single “Rush”, which alone has pulled in over 450 million views, making it one of the most-watched Afrobeats music videos on the platform.

The hit song also earned her a UK platinum certification and made her the first Nigerian female artist to debut a solo track on the UK Official Top 100 chart.

Ayra Starr’s global influence continued to grow in 2025 with the release of “Gimme Dat”, a collaboration with Wizkid that samples classics by Wyclef Jean. The song added momentum to her rising international profile and further secured her place as a leading voice in Afrobeats.

Her accomplishments don’t stop there. Ayra Starr has won two MOBO Awards and a Headies Award for Best R&B Single for her emotional duet “Last Heartbreak Song” with American singer Giveon.

This latest feat not only highlights Ayra Starr’s immense talent but also marks a new chapter for female artists in Nigeria, proving that the global stage is wide open for the next generation of stars.