Nigerian Afrobeats star Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has become the first African artiste to headline an NFL halftime show.
The Grammy-nominated singer performed on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London during the Week 5 NFL matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Ayra Starr took to the makeshift midfield stage before a record-breaking crowd of 61,322 fans, delivering an energetic performance featuring some of her biggest hits and songs from her August 2026 album, Starrgirl.
Her setlist included Heaven Baby, which opened the performance, Rush, Santa, Hot Body, Dangerous and Ms Paper.
Speaking to the BBC, the singer described the performance as a “history-making” moment, emphasising the significance of using major international platforms to showcase African culture and music to a global audience.
Her appearance formed part of the NFL’s expanded international entertainment programme for the 2026 season, which features a record seven halftime shows across four continents.
The milestone further highlights the growing international reach of Afrobeats and the increasing presence of African artistes on major global entertainment stages.
