Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has become the first African female artiste to headline a National Football League (NFL) International Games halftime show.
The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, performed during Sunday’s NFL clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
She opened her set with Heaven Baby before thrilling the audience with Santa, Rush and Dangerous. She concluded her performance with a medley of Hot Body and Ms. Paper.
Ayra Starr later celebrated the milestone in a post on her official X account, describing herself as the first African artiste to headline an NFL International Games halftime show.
The performance was part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games, which feature regular-season matches played outside the United States.
Since launching her music career in 2020, Ayra Starr has established herself as one of Afrobeats’ prominent international acts, performing at major concerts, festivals and sporting events worldwide.
She rose to prominence with her 2021 debut album, 19 & Dangerous, which featured hit songs that helped expand her global audience. Her popular tracks include Rush, Bloody Samaritan and Commas.
Her appearance at the London NFL game further highlighted the growing international presence of Nigerian music and Afrobeats.