Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first African female artist to surpass 5 million followers on Spotify. The ‘Rush’ hitmaker, who has garnered global acclaim, reached this landmark on July 2, 2025, marking a historic moment for African women in the streaming era .
This achievement comes amidst Ayra Starr’s impressive streaming success. Her catalogue boasts around 2.7 billion total streams, with her festive track “Santa” leading the pack at over 707 million streams, and “Rush” itself amassing nearly 474 million streams . Despite Tems maintaining a lead in total streams (3.8 billion), Ayra’s rapid rise in Spotify followers highlights her growing impact and dedicated global fanbase .
Born in Benin Republic and based in Lagos, Ayra Starr’s rise began after signing with Mavin Records in 2019. Her debut album 19 & Dangerous and the follow-up The Year I Turned 21 both earned critical and commercial success—propelling her to international recognition and paving the way for this new Spotify milestone .
This record-setting moment further cements Ayra Starr’s position as a leading figure in the global Afrobeats movement—an inspiration for countless emerging female artists across Africa and beyond. With her blend of Afro-pop, R&B, and personal storytelling, she continues to break barriers and redefine the landscape of African music.
