Ayra Starr triumphed over fellow Nigerian nominees Asake, Tems, Bnxn & Ruger, Rema, Shallipopi, and Odumodublvck, as well as South Africa’s Tyla and Uncle Waffles. Her international category win placed her in an elite group of Nigerian artists, joining Wizkid (2017, 2021) and Burna Boy (2020, 2022) as past winners. She also outshone global heavyweights such as Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, and Latto.
The MOBO Awards, hosted by Indiyah Polack and Eddie Kadi, celebrate the best in Black music and culture. Following her victory, the official MOBO X account celebrated her achievement with a post stating:
“Global star, unstoppable force! @ayrastarr took home Best African Music Act at the #MOBOAwards – repping African music at the highest level!”
Ayra Starr’s Emotional Acceptance Speech
During her acceptance speech, the visibly emotional singer expressed her gratitude:
“Okay, this is my first MOBO. And this is the first time I’m winning a MOBO Award—make some noise! I am actually shaking right now. I am actually nervous. Thank you so much to everybody who supported me. Thank you to my team—my amazing MOB-STARS. My amazing brothers who make music with me—the producers in the studio—my studio partners in crime; my label—MAVINS record, Embryo, my mummy… Thank you so much. Thank you, MOBOs.”
Other Notable Winners
Other major winners at the 2025 MOBO Awards included Darkoo, who won Best Female Act, and Bashy, who received a special honor.
A celebratory post from the MOBO X account highlighted Darkoo’s victory:
“From bangers to big wins! @Darkoo takes home the Best Female Act award at the #MOBOAwards – a well-deserved victory!”
About the MOBO Awards
The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin) is a prestigious British music ceremony founded in 1996 by Kanya King. It honors excellence in music genres of Black origin, including hip-hop, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and African music. The platform has played a crucial role in recognizing and shaping the careers of Black artists in the UK and worldwide.
With Ayra Starr’s record-breaking win, the MOBOs continue to highlight the growing influence of African music on the global stage.
