Ayra Starr Becomes First Nigerian Female Artist to Hit 1 Billion YouTube Views

Ayra Starr Becomes First Nigerian Female Artist to Hit 1 Billion YouTube View

Nigerian music star Ayra Starr has achieved a major career milestone by becoming the first Nigerian female artist to surpass 1 billion views on YouTube.

Eagles Sight News reports that this historic accomplishment places her among a select group of Nigerian artists, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, Rema, CKay, Omah Lay, Tekno, Fireboy DML, Flavour, P-Square, and Kizz Daniel, who have all crossed the billion-view mark on the video-sharing platform.

One of the major contributors to her success on YouTube is her Grammy-nominated single “Rush,” which alone has garnered over 450 million views. The track is currently the most-watched music video by a Nigerian female artist on the platform and ranks among the most viewed Afrobeats videos globally. Since its release in September 2022, “Rush” has also earned Ayra Starr a platinum certification in the United Kingdom, making her the first Nigerian female artist to debut a solo track on the UK Official Top 100 chart.

The singer’s momentum has continued into 2025. On April 25, she released a new single titled “Gimme Dat,” featuring Wizkid. The track samples Wyclef Jean’s classics “Diallo” and “911” featuring Mary J. Blige, blending nostalgic sound with Afrobeats energy.

Earlier this year, Ayra Starr made headlines for winning two MOBO Awards, further solidifying her status as a leading African music export. She also took home the award for Best R&B Single at the 17th Headies Awards for her collaboration with Giveon on “Last Heartbreak Song.”

Ayra Starr’s latest achievement not only cements her place in Nigerian music history but also reinforces the growing global impact of Afrobeats and the rising influence of female artists in the genre.