Nigerian afrobeats star Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, aka Ayra Starr, has become the first African artist to headline a National Football League (NFL) halftime show.
The 24-year-old took to the stage to entertain fans as the Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 19-17 in the NFL London Game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as part of the league’s international games this season.
She performed a medley of her global hits ‘Hot Body’, ‘Heaven Baby’, ‘Santa’, ‘Ms Paper’, ‘Rush’, and ‘Dangerous’, becoming the first African musician to feature in an NFL halftime show.
“It was crazy. It was amazing. I felt like that was another person on stage. By the time we were done, I was like, oh my God, we are already done. But it was amazing. I am so grateful for this,” Ayra Starr said after her performance.
Meanwhile, afrobeats giant Damini ‘Burna Boy’ Ogulu is also set to headline the halftime show for the maiden NFL Paris Game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on October 25.
Reacting to the announcement, Burna Boy stated, “Paris gave me one of the biggest nights of my career, and to walk back into Stade de France for a moment like this means everything. The NFL is bringing something to France that has never happened here before, and I get to stand in the middle of it representing African music, and I intend to give the people a show they will not forget.”
