Nigerian artist Ayra Starr, whose stage name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, has disclosed the source of her inspiration.
She revealed that her record label boss, Don Jazzy, had partially inspired her stage moniker.
She claims that she came up with the name "Ayra" and that the head of Mavin Records added the suffix "Starr."
She added that "Oyin," a nickname for her first name, Oyinkansola, was how people knew her before she signed with Mavin.
The artist remarked, "There is this Yoruba name called Ira, I wanted people to pronounce it as 'Aira,'" during a special Christmas interview with Arise TV. And I thought, 'A Y R A,' is the only way they could say it. I was contemplating it when I suddenly felt compelled to go "A Y R A." And as soon as I did, everything fell into place: I could feel God talking to me through the significance of the name.
"Starr" was also Don Jazzy's idea. The term "woke and open minded" is ayra. And that's my desire. I want to be respected and treated with honor.