In a historic moment for Nigerian music, Afro-pop sensation Ayra Starr has become the first Nigerian female artist to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube, setting a new benchmark in the industry and dethroning long-time record-holder Yemi Alade.

At just 23 years old, Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, has not only redefined the trajectory for female artists in the Afrobeats scene but also carved her name in global music history. Her streaming milestone comes on the heels of her explosive single ‘Rush’, which alone has amassed over 450 million views, making it the most-watched Nigerian music video by a female artist.

Until this week, Yemi Alade held the title with 805 million cumulative views, bolstered by her evergreen hit ‘Johnny’. However, Ayra’s meteoric rise — driven by her bold sound, Gen Z charisma, and Grammy-nominated projects — has now placed her at the pinnacle of YouTube stardom among Nigerian women.

The Mavin Records signee’s breakthrough adds her name to an elite list of Nigerian music heavyweights who have crossed the billion-view mark, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Flavour, Rema, CKay, Kizz Daniel, P-Square, Omah Lay, Fireboy DML, and Tekno.

Industry watchers say this feat signals a new era for female artists in Nigeria, often under-represented in global music charts. Ayra Starr’s success reflects a growing demand for diverse voices and signals the world is finally tuned in to the full spectrum of Afrobeats talent.

With her sophomore album on the horizon and international collaborations stacking up, Ayra’s billion-view moment might just be the beginning of a reign worthy of royalty.