Nigerian Afrobeat star Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, reached a historic milestone at the 2025 MOBO Awards held at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, UK on February 18. The 22-year-old artist received two prestigious awards: ‘Best African Music Act’ and ‘Best International Act’, marking a significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
Ayra Starr’s win in the ‘Best African Music Act’ category is particularly noteworthy as she became the first artist in 16 years to receive the accolade. The accolade underscores her exceptional talent and the growing global recognition of her contribution to the Afrobeat genre.
In the ‘Best International Act’ category, Ayra Starr faced stiff competition from established artists including Nigerian musicians Asake and Tems, as well as international stars such as Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé. Her triumph in the category underlines her growing stature in the global music scene.
In her heartfelt speech, Ayra Starr expressed her deep gratitude to her fans, team, and family for their unwavering support. She dedicated her awards to the thriving African music scene, highlighting the collective effort put into bringing African sounds to the international stage.
The 2025 MOBO Awards celebrated a wide range of talents, with some of the most notable winners including Bashy, who won ‘Best Hip-Hop Act’ and ‘Album of the Year’ for ‘Being Poor Is Expensive’, and Darkoo, who was named ‘Best Female Act’ and received the ‘Song of the Year’ award for ‘Favourite Girl’.
Ayra Starr’s double win is not only a testament to her individual artistic achievements but also reflects the growing global appreciation for African music and its cultural influence. Her success serves as an inspiration to emerging artists across the continent, showing that African musicians have the potential to achieve international recognition.
Ayra Starr’s career continues to flourish, and her performance at the 2025 MOBO Awards is a testament to her commitment, talent, and the universal appeal of Afrobeat music.
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MOBO 2025 winners full list
Best male act – Central Cee
Best female act – Darkoo
Best newcomer – Odeal
Album of the year – Bashy, Being Poor Is Expensive
Song of the year – Darkoo feat. Dess Dior, Favourite Girl
Video of the year – Mnelia, My Man
Best hip-hop act – Bashy
Best grime act – Scorcher
Best drill act – Pozer
Best R&B/Soul act – Odeal
Best media personality – 90s baby show
Best African music act – Ayra Starr
Best performance in a TV show/ film – Jacob Anderson as Louis in Interview With The Vampire
Best electronic/ dance music act – TSHA
Best gospel act – Annatoria
Best jazz act – Ezra Collective
Best producer – Juls
Best Caribbean music act – Shenseea
Best alternative music act – ALT BLK ERA
Best international act – Ayra Starr
MOBO paving the way award – Denise Lewis MBE
MOBO impact award – Vybz Kartel
