Why I Love Rihana So Much – Ayra Starr

Oyinkansola Aderigbigbe, the Nigerian singer aka Ayra Starr, who is one of the two most streamed Nigerian artists globally on Spotify in 2024, has revealed how close she and superstar American singer, Rihanna are.

Speaking on Capital Xtra podcast the “Bloody Samaritan” crooner says she loves the way the American singer pronounces her Yoruba name “Oyinkansola” adding she pronounces so well even with her American accent.

“RIhanna knows me so well. She knows my movements, how I sing…” then the presenter interjected that he saw her (Starr) and Rihanna hanging out and asked what they were talking about.

Ayra Starr said, ”Yes, I can’t remember it all. I was just looking at her. You know people say you don’t meet your idols, I’m glad I met mine. It gave me so much affirmation and I just felt this is somebody I looked up to, before doing this, and now she knows me. She knows even my movements, how I sing because she loves music, she loves Afrobeats so much. She knows how to pronounce my name “Oyinkansola”. She knows how to pronounce it very well. I was wowed. I told her and she was like I knew. She’s a beautiful person. I love her so much.”

What was not revealed was whether a collaboration could be in the works but the Beninese-Nigerian singer has got the year off to a great start and topped the pack with her singles “Santa” and “Comma”.