Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has once again opened the door to the musical influences behind her distinctive sound, placing global superstar Rihanna firmly among the artists who inspired her journey. Starr’s admiration is hardly a secret: she has previously identified Rihanna as one of her biggest inspirations, while Mavin Records has also described Rihanna’s free spirit and confidence as part of the influence behind the Nigerian singer’s artistry.
In the latest revelation attributed to Starr, she praised Rihanna’s unique voice and rich tone—essentially confirming that before Ayra became the woman confidently commanding Afrobeats stages, she was also a young music lover studying what made international stars sound unmistakably themselves. And if imitation is supposedly the sincerest form of flattery, Ayra appears to have taken the idea one step further: she borrowed the inspiration and built her own lane.
Rihanna’s Voice Became More Than Just a Sound
For Ayra Starr, Rihanna’s appeal appears to go beyond hit records and celebrity status. The Nigerian singer has spoken about being inspired by Rihanna alongside artists such as Beyoncé, Shakira and Miley Cyrus, particularly by the power and confidence she felt when listening to them.
There is also an amusing twist in the story: Ayra did not simply admire Rihanna from a distance. In April 2024, the two eventually met at a Fenty event in London, a moment that Starr has described as surreal. Their paths crossed again during Barbados’ Crop Over festivities, giving the younger star a real-life encounter with one of the women who helped shape her musical imagination.
From Student of Rihanna to a Voice of Her Own
The irony is that while Rihanna may have helped inspire Ayra Starr, the Nigerian singer has developed a vocal identity that critics and interviewers increasingly describe as distinctive in its own right. Starr herself has explained that her voice is central to her sound and that she wants its deeper and higher registers to remain identifiable regardless of the genre she explores.
That distinctive voice has become one of Ayra’s biggest musical signatures. Her career has moved from her early Mavin breakthrough to international stages, with songs such as “Rush” helping establish her as one of the prominent young faces of Afrobeats globally. The once-inspired fan is now becoming an inspiration herself—a development that would probably make the Rihanna fan club in Ayra’s head very proud indeed.
For now, Ayra Starr’s comments offer another glimpse into the influences behind her artistry and the journey that transformed admiration into musical identity. Whether Rihanna’s influence can still be heard in Ayra’s music is a question fans can debate, but one thing is increasingly clear: the “Sabi Girl” is no longer merely studying the stars—she is steadily joining their ranks. OGM News NG will continue to follow Ayra Starr’s journey and bring readers the next development.
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