Ayra Starr is set to make history today as the first African artist to headline an NFL International Games halftime show. The 24-year-old Nigerian star performs during the Philadelphia Eagles versus Jacksonville Jaguars game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, kicking off at 2:30 p.m. BST, one of seven international-game halftime shows the league is staging this season.
In an interview with BBC Newsbeat published overnight, Starr said the booking "itself is a message," adding that artists must use big platforms to represent their culture. Her set will draw from her latest album Starrgirl, released in August 2026, and she said she was still in rehearsals and "really excited." The NFL said she was chosen in part for her connection with London audiences and the growing influence of African music in the city.
Born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, Starr broke out with 2021's "Bloody Samaritan" and has released three albums - 19 & Dangerous, The Year I Turned 21 and Starrgirl. She is a two-time Grammy nominee, a BET Best International Act winner and a MOBO winner, with more than a billion YouTube views and a Glastonbury appearance to her name. Her London showcase follows Bad Bunny's history-making all-Spanish Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year.
