With the release of her self-titled debut EP in 2019, Ayra Starr shot to fame as one of the female musicians whose sound is igniting the Afrobeats genre and reaching a worldwide audience.

The celebrated vocalist explained how she came up with her stage name, Haven, in an interview with Arise News. Previously, she went by Oyin, which was derived from her first name, Oyinkansola.

Ayra Starr says she googled the word “Ayra” and fell in love with its meaning because she wanted to be called “Ira” in Yoruba but wanted people to pronounce her name as “Ayra.”

The singer explained how the Starr in her stage name came to be. She said it was a gift from Don Jazzy, the founder of Mavin Records and a legendary music executive, who, according to Ayra, wanted everyone to know she’s a star.

Since stepping into the spotlight, Ayra Starr’s music has won her numerous accolades and global listeners, making her a household name.

With the commercial success of her hit songs “Rush” and “Sability,” the singer has had an incredibly successful 2023.

Following the announcement that her hit song “Rush” was shortlisted for Best African Song Performance, the singer became the first female lead artist from Nigeria and the youngest artist to receive a Grammy nomination.