Nigerian singer Ayra Starr revealed how she got her stage name in a chat with Arise TV.
She explained that “Ayra” was her idea from the Yoruba term ‘Ira,’ intending it to mean ‘woke and open-minded.’
Don Jazzy, her label boss, suggested adding ‘Starr’ for added depth. Before joining Mavin Records, she was known as “Oyin,” a nickname from her first name, Oyinkansola.
In her words in the interview;
“There is this Yoruba name called Ira, I wanted people to pronounce it as ‘Aira.’ And I was like the only way the can pronounce it is by spelling it ‘A Y R A.’”
“So, I was thinking about it and something just told me to go ‘A Y R A.’ And went I did, everything just came together: The meaning of the name, it felt like God was speaking to me.”
“And ‘Starr’ was Don Jazzy’s idea. Ayra means ‘woke and open minded.’ And that’s what I want. I want to be honoured and respected.”
