It was a historic double win for Ayra Starr at the 2025 MOBO Awards, as she clinched the award for Best African Music Act and Best International Act. The ceremony, held at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on February 18, marked a milestone moment for African music on the global stage.
Winning Best African Music Act was already a massive feat, making her the first female artist in 16 years to take home the award. But Ayra Starr didn’t stop there. She went on to claim the Best International Act trophy, becoming the first African woman ever to win in that category. This places her alongside past winners like Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé.
Stepping onto the MOBOs stage, an emotional Ayra Starr soaked in the moment. “Okay, this is my first MOBO. And this is the first time I’m winning a MOBO Award—make some noise! I am actually shaking right now. I am actually nervous,” she admitted, overwhelmed by the magnitude of her achievement.
She went on to thank her supporters, label, and loved ones. “Thank you so much to everybody who supported me. Thank you to my team, my amazing Mobstars. My amazing brothers who make music with me, the producers in the studio, my studio partners in crime; my label, Mavin Records. Shoutout to my mummy, shoutout to my family. Thank you so much.” In another news iNaijanow recently shared a post of Young Jonn, Blaqbonez headlining the Chocolate City’s Multiple Headies nominations.
Ayra Starr’s Best African Music Act win meant she edged out some of the continent’s biggest names, including Asake, Rema, Tems, and South Africa’s Tyla. Meanwhile, in the Best International Act category, she triumphed over global heavyweights like Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, and GloRilla.
Her success joins an elite list of Nigerian artists who have won Best International Act at the MOBOs. Previously, only Wizkid (2017, 2021) and Burna Boy (2020, 2022) had achieved this feat.
The MOBO Awards, founded in 1996 by Kanya King, honor Black music excellence across genres like hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, gospel, and Afrobeats. This year’s edition, hosted by comedian Eddie Kadi and media personality Indiyah Polack, continued the tradition of celebrating standout talent.
Aside from Ayra’s historic wins, the night also saw Bashy, Darkoo, and Odeal picking up awards. Darkoo secured the Best Female Act, establishing her reputation as another rising star in the African musical scene. The official MOBO X account celebrated Ayra Starr’s win, posting, “Global star, unstoppable force! @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African music at the highest level!”
Ayra Starr’s MOBO victories add to an already remarkable year. She recently graced the cover of Blanc Magazine’s “Rule The World” issue, where she spoke about her journey, self-confidence, and the impact of her support system. Between bagging MOBOs and gracing the cover of Blanc Magazine’s “Rule The World” issue, Ayra Starr is showing us all that she’s just getting started. With these wins, she’s not just pushing Afrobeats forward; she’s making it clear that she is the moment.
