Nigerian music star Ayra Starr has made history once again by becoming the first woman in 16 years to win the Best African Music Act category at the 2025 MOBO Awards. The singer also secured the Best International Music Act award at the prestigious ceremony held in Newcastle.
Ayra Starr triumphed over fellow Nigerian artists Asake, Tems, BNXN & Ruger, Rema, Shallipopi, and Odumodublvck, as well as South Africa’s Tyla and Uncle Waffles. She also outshined international heavyweights like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, and Latto in the Best International Music Act category.
With this win, Ayra Starr joins Wizkid (2017, 2021) and Burna Boy (2020, 2022) as the only Nigerian artists to have won the MOBO Award for Best International Act.
In her acceptance speech, an overwhelmed Ayra Starr expressed her gratitude, saying:
“Thank you so much to everybody who supported me. Thank you to my team, my amazing MOB-STARS, my amazing brothers who make music with me; the producers in the studio; my studio partners in crime; my label MAVINS record, my mummy”
“Thank you so much. Thank you, MOBOs”
Other notable winners at the 2025 MOBO Awards included Darkoo, who took home the Best Female Act award, and Bashy and Odeal, who also secured major wins.
The official MOBO X account celebrated Ayra Starr’s achievement with a post that read:
“Global star, unstoppable force! ✨ @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African music at the highest level! ”
The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin Awards) is a prestigious British music ceremony founded in1996 that celebrates excellence in Black-origin music genres, including hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and African music.