Singer Ayra Starr has achieved a major milestone in her career by becoming the first woman in 16 years to win the Best African Music Act at the 2025 MOBO Awards.

Ayra Starr also took home the Best International Music Act award at the ceremony held in Newcastle, beating out fellow Nigerian artistes such as Asake, Tems, and South African Tyla.

The event, hosted by Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi, celebrated the best of Black music and culture.

A post on the official MOBO X account said, “Global star, unstoppable force! @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African music at the highest level!”

During her acceptance speech, Ayra Starr expressed her gratitude to everyone who has supported her, inclduing her record label, Mavins Record, her studio producers and her mother among others.
She 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.”

The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin Awards), founded in 1996 by Kanya King, 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.