11th June, 2024
By Taiwo Okanlawon
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr has made history as the first Nigerian female artist to grace the U.S. Billboard 200 Album chart.
The 21-year-old singer achieved the feat with her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’ which debuted at No. 195 on Monday.
“Debuts on this week’s #Billboard200:
No. 2, @ATEEZofficial Golden Hour : Part.1 (EP)
No. 5, @ShaboozeysJeans Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
No. 17, @themarias Submarine
No. 102, @crowdermusic The Exile
No. 169, @carinleonofi Boca Chueca, Vol. 1
No. 195, @ayrastarr The Year I Turned 21,” Billboard charts tweeted.
The album is also the first project by a female Nigerian artist to debut on the UK Official Album chart.
It debuted at N0. 80 in the UK and N0. 72 in France.
Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini’ which reached NO. 14 remains the highest-peaking Nigerian album in the U.S. it’s also the first Nigerian album to top the UK album chart.
Ayra Starr became a viral sensation after releasing her hit track ‘Bloody Samaritan’ in 2021.
The same year she released her debut studio album “19 and Dangerous” and it included her other chart-topping songs “Away,” “Rush” and “Bloody Samaritan,” which she later remixed with American singer, Kelly Rowland.
With numerous awards and accolades, Starr has become one of the continent’s fastest-rising artistes.
She was among the Nigerian music stars nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards.
“Rush” earned her a first Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category, making her the youngest Nigerian female artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award in that category.
The music star, however, lost to Tyla, the South African singer.