Award-winning Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has revealed that Afrobeats heavyweight Burna Boy remains her top choice for a future music collaboration.
Speaking in a recent interview with Billboard, the Mavin Records star expressed excitement about working with more artists, singling out Burna Boy as her ultimate pick.
“Everybody knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with,” Starr said. “I’ve collaborated with a lot of people, and I still want to collaborate with many more.”
Ayra Starr’s comments come on the heels of her growing international success, including earning two Grammy nominations. One of the nominations is for Best African Music Performance for her collaboration with Wizkid on the hit track “Gimme Dat.”
The nominations were announced in November 2025 ahead of the Grammy Awards ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026.
Reacting to the recognition, the singer described her second nomination as a reassuring milestone in her career.
“I remember I was so excited. I was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God. I knew it,’” she said. “Every day I feel happy. I’m very grateful. It’s like a new feeling — ‘Oh, I’m actually a two-time Grammy nominee.’”
Comparing her first and second nominations, Starr explained that while the first felt surreal, the second affirmed her confidence as an artist.
“The first time was like, ‘This is crazy.’ But the second time felt like reassurance — like, ‘Oh, I’m good at this. I know what I’m doing,’” she said.
Reflecting on the creative process behind “Gimme Dat,” Ayra revealed she was initially unaware of the iconic sample used in the song until Mavin boss Don Jazzy pointed it out.
“I was born in 2002, so I didn’t really know exactly,” she said. “Don Jazzy was like, ‘Okay, this is a 911 sample.’ I did my research and I was like, ‘Wow.’”
She described the recording experience as symbolic, noting that the studio turned out to be Wyclef Jean’s studio—something she only discovered afterward.
“It felt like everything was just meant to be,” she said.
Ayra also opened up about struggling with her vocals during the recording process, admitting that the first session did not go well.
“I sounded horrible… The engineer knew I sounded horrible,” she said. “But I was very determined.”
Despite ongoing vocal issues, she returned to the studio the next day and pushed through.
“My voice was still all over the place, but I gave my all. We thank God for technology. It came out beautiful.”
The singer further revealed that “Gimme Dat” was originally meant to be a solo release before Wizkid joined the project months later.
“When we got Wizkid on the track, I was like, ‘You know what? It’s time.’ Everything came together perfectly,” she said.
On the global rise of African music, Ayra Starr said the moment reflects a long-overdue shift in global attention.
“I feel like it’s Africa’s time music-wise,” she said. “We’ve always made amazing music, and the world is just catching up.”
Looking ahead, the singer says she remains focused on creative growth, with new music and personal projects in the works.
“One thing I’m doing this year is creating whatever I want to exist,” she said. “I’m working on an album. I’m not done. By God’s grace — a book.”