Ayra Starr breaks 16-year jinx to win best African act at 2025 MOBO Awards
By Jeffrey Agbo
Singer Ayra Starr on Tuesday night won Best African Music Act at the 2025 MOBO Awards.
This makes her the first woman in 16 years to win the award, beating co-Nigerians Asake and Tems and also South Africa’s Tyla.
Ayra Starr also won Best International Music Act award at the ceremony held in Newcastle.
That category had the likes of Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla and Latto.
Ayra Starr (2025) joins Wizkid (2017, 2021) and Burna Boy (2020, 2022) as the only Nigerian artists to have won the MOBO Award for Best International Act.
The event, hosted by Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi, celebrated the best of Black music and culture.
In her acceptance speech, the visibly emotional singer said: “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 included Bashy, Darkoo, and Odeal.
Darkoo also secured the Best Female Act award.
Founded in 1996 by Kanya King, the MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin Awards) is an annual British music ceremony that honours excellence in music of Black origin, spanning genres such as hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and African music.
