Ayra Starr dominates Spotify’s Nigeria Global Impact List, wins MOBO Awards

Nigerian music sensation Ayra Starr has taken the music world by storm, leading Spotify‘s Nigeria Global Impact List 2025 with an impressive six songs in the top 30. Her success didn’t stop there; she also clinched two prestigious MOBO Awards, including Best International Act, and became the first female artist to win Best African Act at the 2025 MOBO Awards.

Spotify’s 2025 Global Impact List celebrates the 30 Nigerian songs that have connected most powerfully with international audiences this year, highlighting the country’s ever-growing influence on the world stage.

Ayra Starr, now two-times MOBO Award winner had songs from her sophomore album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ top Nigerian charts, and her influence resonated with Afrobeats fans worldwide. Songs like ‘Santa’ featuring producer Rvssian and Latin artist Rauw Alejandro was first on the list. Other songs that appeared on the list include ‘GOOD FEELiNGS’, ‘Hypé’, ‘Commas’, ‘Last Heartbreak Song’ featuring Giveon, and ‘Bad Vibez’ featuring Asake made entries on the list.

Burna Boy came in second place with five entries in this year’s list.

Ayra Starr’s influence saw her name in Spotify RADAR and EQUAL alumna in previous years and was Nigeria’s most-streamed female artist on Spotify in 2024. Her album, ‘The Year I Turned 21’, also cemented her global reach, ranking among the top 10 most-streamed albums of the year.

The global reach of Nigerian music is significantly amplified by the power of collaboration as 22 of the 30 listed songs are collaborations.

According to Spotify, this demonstrates that such partnerships are not merely a trend, but a necessity for Nigerian artists seeking international success. While three of these collaborations feature fellow Nigerian artists, 19 involve partnerships with artists from other countries, highlighting how cross-continental collaborations drive global recognition.

Top hits like ‘Santa’, ‘WE PRAY’ (TINI Version), and ‘Another Vibe’ perfectly illustrate this collaborative power.

Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, notes, “Nigerian artists are breaking boundaries and the world is listening. Nigerian music has always been rich and diverse, and at Spotify, we’re proud to amplify these talents globally.”