Ayra Starr explains stage name, Don Jazzy’s input

Nigerian singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has revealed the inspiration behind her stage name.

She said her stage name was partly her record label boss, Don Jazzy’s idea.

According to her, she coined “Ayra” while the Mavin Records boss added the suffix “Starr.”

She said before signing to Mavin, she was known as “Oyin,” a nick of her first name, Oyinkansola.

Speaking in a special Christmas interview with Arise TV, the singer said: “There is this Yoruba name called Ira, I wanted people to pronounce it as ‘Aira.’ And I was like the only way the can pronounce it is by spelling it ‘A Y R A.’ So, I was thinking about it and something just told me to go ‘A Y R A.’ And went I did, everything just came together: The meaning of the name, it felt like God was speaking to me.

“And ‘Starr’ was Don Jazzy’s idea. Ayra means ‘woke and open minded.’ And that’s what I want. I want to be honoured and respected.”