Grammy-nominated Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has made history as the first Nigerian female artiste to exceed one billion total views on YouTube.
The Mavin Records singer marked the milestone in a post shared via her fan page on Instagram on Monday. The impressive figure is largely driven by her global hit Rush, which alone has racked up over 458 million views, underscoring her growing international reach and the broad appeal of her sound.
This achievement places the Sability hitmaker among a select group of Nigerian music heavyweights, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Rema, Davido, and Omah Lay, who have also crossed the one-billion-view threshold on the platform. 
Other Nigerian artistes who have reached this milestone include Kizz Daniel, Tekno, P-Square, Flavour, and Fireboy DML.
The 22-year-old singer, affectionately known as “Sabi Girl,” has continued to gain both local and global recognition since her 2021 debut.
Ayra Starr is also one of the most followed African artistes on Spotify, with over 4.8 million followers.
Her Grammy-nominated single Rush has played a key role in her international rise. The track has earned multiple certifications, including Platinum status in the UK after surpassing 600,000 units in sales and streams. It also marked her first appearance on the UK’s Official Top 100 chart.
In 2023, Rush earned Diamond certification in France after going viral following its September 2022 release, climbing into the top ten in several countries.
The hit also secured Ayra Starr her first Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.
In addition, Rush has been certified Platinum in Canada and New Zealand, and triple Platinum in Nigeria, cementing its status as a global success.
NAN
