Nigerian singer Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has become the first African artiste to headline NFL Halftime Show.
The Afrobeats sensation took the makeshift midfield stage, on Sunday, at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the Week 5 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
She performed live in front of a record-breaking crowd of 61,322 fans, electrifying her fans with a set drawn heavily from her growing global catalog and her August 2026 album, Starrgirl. She performed her hit songs: Heaven Baby (Opening track), Rush (Her Grammy-nominated smash hit), Santa, Hot Body, Dangerous, Ms Paper.
While speaking with BBC, Ayra described the moment as ‘history-making’, stating that it tells a message. She spoke about the importance of utilising big platforms like American football’s biggest international stage to promote African culture.
Ayra’s appearance was part of an expanded NFL international entertainment program featuring a record seven halftime shows across four continents during the 2026 season.
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