Rising star Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has been selected as Spotify’s Equal Africa and Global Artist for the month of May. This prestigious recognition makes her the second African artist, after Tiwa Savage, to achieve this feat.
Ayra Starr’s unique sound, which she describes as “highly vibrational, eccentric, unique, and beautiful,” has garnered over 35 million streams on Spotify with her February release, “Commas.” She expressed her gratitude for being chosen as a Spotify EQUAL Ambassador, stating that it means a lot to her to represent women in Afrobeats and African women in general.
The Spotify EQUAL program aims to support female artists globally through playlists, content hubs, and partnerships. Monica Kemoli-Savanne, Spotify’s Senior Artist & Label Partnerships Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, emphasized the platform’s commitment to empowering women in the music industry, creating a more level playing field.
Ayra Starr’s selection is a testament to the talent and growth of female artists from Africa, with Spotify’s EQUAL program playing a significant role in their discovery and success. In 2023 alone, the program hosted 15 EQUAL activations, resulting in over 14.8 million artist discoveries and 11,800 editorial playlist adds.