Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has made history after becoming the first African artiste to headline a National Football League (NFL) International Games halftime show.
The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, took the stage at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Sunday, Oct. 11, during the NFL International Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Her performance placed Nigerian music at the centre of one of the world’s biggest sporting platforms as the NFL continues to expand its international programme.
Ayra Starr opened her set with “Heaven Baby”, before moving through songs including “Santa”, “Rush” and “Dangerous” and ending with a medley featuring “Hot Body” and “Ms. Paper”.
The appearance was part of the NFL’s 2026 International Games programme, which features regular-season matches outside the United States. The league said Ayra Starr’s performance formed part of a record seven halftime shows being staged across its international games during the season.
Ayra Starr takes Afrobeats to the NFL
The London performance represents another significant step in Ayra Starr’s rapidly expanding international career.
The NFL described her as one of the prominent voices of a new generation of global music emerging from Africa. According to the league, she had accumulated more than seven billion global streams and one billion YouTube views since making her debut in 2021.
Her selection for the NFL stage was first announced in August, ahead of the London game. At the time, Nigerian media reported that she would become the first major African artiste to headline an NFL halftime show.
That expectation became reality when she performed before the London crowd on Sunday.
Singer reflects on history-making performance
Following the performance, Ayra Starr expressed excitement about the experience, describing the opportunity as extraordinary.
In comments reported after the show, she said performing on the NFL stage was an unforgettable experience and expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
Before the event, she also spoke about the broader significance of representing African culture on major international platforms.
Her appearance comes at a time when Afrobeats continues to gain visibility beyond traditional music venues, with Nigerian artistes increasingly performing at major festivals, sporting events and international entertainment platforms.
A major moment for Nigerian music
Ayra Starr’s NFL appearance adds to a growing list of international milestones for the singer.
She first attracted widespread attention after releasing her debut EP, “Ayra Starr,” before establishing herself internationally with her debut album “19 & Dangerous” in 2021.
Songs such as “Rush” and “Bloody Samaritan” helped build her global audience, while subsequent releases have further strengthened her position in the international Afrobeats scene.
The NFL performance now gives her another major global platform and further highlights the expanding international reach of Nigerian music.
The historic show also came on a dramatic day for the sport itself. The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 19–17 in London after Cam Little converted a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining.
