Afrobeats sensation Ayra Starr has revealed that Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy remains her top choice for a musical collaboration, describing the African Giant as her number one dream partnership.

The two-time Grammy nominee made this disclosure during a Billboard interview with Love Island USA star Chelley Bissainthe while discussing her 2026 Grammy nominations released in November 2025.

“Everybody knows Burna Boy is like my number one person I want to collaborate with. I’ve collaborated with a lot of people, and I still want to collaborate with many more people,” the 23-year-old singer stated.

Ayra Starr, born Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, earned her latest Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance for her collaboration with Wizkid on “Gimme Dat,” released on April 25, 2025.

The track competes alongside heavyweights including Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido and Omah Lay’s “With You,” Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love,” and South Africa’s Tyla for “PUSH 2 START.”

Reflecting on the recognition, Ayra Starr described the nomination as a moment of reassurance in her career. She revealed that “Gimme Dat” was originally intended as her solo single before Wizkid joined the project.

“I recorded this song maybe six or eight months before it actually came out. This was before Wizkid even jumped on it. It was supposed to be just my single,” the Mavin Records artist explained.

She added that when Wizkid came on board, the timing felt perfect. “When we got Wizkid on the track, I was like, ‘You know what? It’s time.’ It came together perfectly at the right time. It came out beautiful.”

Speaking on the growing global recognition of African music, Ayra Starr emphasized that the current moment reflects a broader cultural shift happening across the continent.

“I feel like it’s Africa’s time music-wise. We’ve always made amazing music, and the world is just catching up,” she declared, highlighting the increasing appreciation for Afrobeats and other African genres on international platforms.

Looking ahead, the singer revealed she is working on new music and expanding her creative portfolio beyond the recording booth. “One thing I’m doing this year is creating whatever I want to exist. I’m working on an album. I’m not done. By God’s grace — a book,” Ayra Starr disclosed.

The Grammy Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 1, 2026, where Ayra Starr will compete for her second career nomination after previously earning recognition for her work with the genre’s leading voices.

Burna Boy enters the 2026 ceremony with two nominations: Best African Music Performance for “Love” and Best Global Music Album for “No Sign of Weakness,” marking his seventh consecutive Grammy nomination and making him the first African artist to achieve such a streak.

The potential collaboration between Ayra Starr and Burna Boy has generated significant excitement among fans on social media, with many expressing hope that the two powerhouse voices will unite on a future project.

Ayra Starr has previously collaborated with several major artists including Wizkid, Giveon, Kelly Rowland, and Asake, demonstrating her versatility and appeal across different musical styles and markets.

Her rapid ascent in global music has been marked by chart-topping singles, sold-out international tours, and growing recognition as one of Afrobeats’ most promising young talents capable of carrying the genre into its next evolution.

An old interview with late legendary Nigerian musician Orlando Julius has resurfaced on social media, reigniting debates about the origins of Afrobeat amid the ongoing controversy involving award-winning singer Wizkid and Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
In the archival interview with Agbaletu TV, Orlando Julius boldly claimed that he pioneered Afrobeat long before Fela Kuti popularised the genre, stating that he began the sound in 1960.
“I started Afrobeat in Nigeria in 1960,” Julius said, adding that “there was never anyone making music in any form close to Afrobeat at the time.”
He traced his musical roots to his childhood in Ikole Ekiti, where he developed an early passion for music through his family and school environment. “I was born in Ikole Ekiti. My dad was Osomalo. That was where I was schooled, and I was one of the band boys of St. Peter’s Anglican School, Ikole Ekiti. Music had been in my blood since then, and my mother played a role in my fondness for music because when we finished eating after getting home from school, I used to sing at night for my mother, who was an Aso Ofi fabric maker,” he recounted.
Julius also expressed gratitude to the late Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, for his role in shaping his musical journey. He recalled how Awolowo’s initiative to provide musical instruments helped many young Nigerians learn music professionally.
“When my dad died, I dropped out of high school and left Ekiti for Ibadan when Obafemi Awolowo was the Premier of Western Nigeria around 1956. I devoted my full interest in music in 1957 because Obafemi Awolowo was a music lover who also loved his hometown,” he said.
He added, “He called the Action Group and suggested they buy a lot of musical instruments that could be enough for about 30 bands… That was where I learnt music and where I learnt my first instrument… It was at the place I learnt how to play alto sax, saxophone, and drumset. I play drums very well and also guitar.”
On how he coined the term Afrobeat, Julius explained that the name emerged organically from audiences who were curious about his sound.
“When we started playing in Ibadan… whenever people asked what kind of music we were playing, I always told them it was Afrobeat. The reason I called it Afrobeat was that… I listened to Cuban music, Caribbean music, Kenyan music, South African music, and others. So, I put them all together. That is where Afro comes from. Afro is African, and those people are descendants. That’s how Afrobeat started,” he said.
He also insisted that Fela Kuti was not active in music when he founded his band. “No,” he said when asked if Fela was already singing, adding that he only started hearing about him in 1963. Julius recalled how Fela later joined his band on stage as a guest trumpeter and even recruited some of his musicians when he formed Koola Lobitos in Lagos.
“Every time Fela came, he always played trumpet on our stage… When it was time for him to start his own band called Koola Lobitos, I released three members of my band to follow him to Lagos,” he revealed.
The interview has gone viral again following Wizkid’s controversial remarks about Fela and the ensuing social media feud with Seun Kuti, which reopened conversations about legacy, influence, and the true origins of Afrobeat. While Fela Kuti remains globally celebrated as the genre’s architect, Orlando Julius’ claims highlight the layered and contested history behind one of Africa’s most influential musical movements.

Renowned Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has shared an inspiring message for young creatives, reflecting on her journey to success.

Taking to her Instagram and Twitter, Funke posted a video showcasing her growth over the years. She candidly admitted that the path to success wasn’t always smooth, but every challenge along the way was worthwhile.

Expressing pride in her journey, she emphasized the importance of hustle and hard work. Through her story, Funke hopes to encourage aspiring creatives to stay determined and keep pushing forward, no matter how tough the road may seem.

Her powerful message to them: “Never give up on your dreams, even when the journey gets tough. Keep pushing, keep striving, and success will come!”