Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has made history as the first woman in 16 years to win Best African Music Act at the prestigious 2025 MOBO Awards. The singer also secured Best International Music Act, cementing her place as one of Africa’s biggest global stars.
The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin Awards), held in Newcastle, UK, celebrated the best of Black music and culture, with Ayra Starr emerging as one of the night’s biggest winners.
Ayra Starr’s Double Victory
Ayra Starr claimed the Best African Music Act award by defeating a strong lineup of fellow Nigerian and African stars, including:
- Asake (Nigeria)
- Bnxn & Ruger (Nigeria)
- King Promise (Ghana)
- Odumodublvck (Nigeria)
- Rema (Nigeria)
- Shallipopi (Nigeria)
- Tems (Nigeria)
- Tyla (South Africa)
- Uncle Waffles (South Africa)
She also triumphed over global music icons such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, and Latto to win the Best International Music Act award.
Her victory places her in the elite category of Nigerian artists who have won Best International Act, joining Wizkid (2017, 2021) and Burna Boy (2020, 2022).
A post from the official MOBO X (Twitter) account celebrated her achievement, stating:
“Global star, unstoppable force! 🌍✨ @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African music at the highest level! 🔥🏆”
Ayra Starr’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
A visibly emotional Ayra Starr took to the stage to accept her first-ever MOBO Award, expressing her gratitude:
“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.
Thank you so much to everybody who supported me. Thank you to my team—my amazing MOB-STARS.
My amazing brothers who make music with me—the producers in the studio—my studio partners in crime; my label—MAVINS record, Embryo, my mummy…
Thank you so much. Thank you, MOBOs.”
Other Notable Winners at the 2025 MOBO Awards
Alongside Ayra Starr, several other artists took home major awards, including:
- Darkoo – Best Female Act
- Bashy, Darkoo, and Odeal – Other key category winners
A celebratory post on MOBO’s X account highlighted Darkoo’s victory:
“From bangers to big wins! 🔥🏆 @Darkoo takes home the Best Female Act award at the #MOBOAwards – a well-deserved victory! 🙌”
The Significance of the MOBO Awards
Founded in 1996 by Kanya King, the MOBO Awards celebrate excellence in Black-origin music, spanning genres such as hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and African music. Over the years, the platform has been instrumental in recognizing and elevating Black artists in the UK and worldwide.
Ayra Starr’s historic double win not only cements her status as a global star but also underscores the continued dominance of Afrobeats on the international music scene.
With this groundbreaking achievement, the Nigerian star has proven that African music is thriving on the global stage, and she is undoubtedly one of its leading ambassadors.
