Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has expressed her strong desire to collaborate with Afrobeats superstar Burna Boy, describing him as the one artiste she most hopes to work with.
Gossip News Now reports that the award-winning singer made this known during a Billboard interview released on Thursday, January 29, 2026, while reflecting on her 2026 Grammy nominations in a conversation with Love Island USA star, Chelley Bissainthe.
Ayra Starr explained that despite having worked with several top musicians, Burna Boy remains her top priority for future collaborations.
“Everyone knows Burna Boy is the number one person I want to collaborate with. I’ve already worked with many artistes, and I still hope to collaborate with even more,” she said.
Ayra Starr, born Sarah Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, recently secured a Grammy nomination in the Best African Music Performance category.
The recognition came through her hit single Gimme Dat, a collaboration with Wizkid released on April 25, 2025.
The official list of nominees was unveiled in November 2025, ahead of the prestigious award ceremony scheduled for February 1, 2026.
Reacting to the nomination, the singer described the achievement as a major confidence boost, saying it reassured her about her growth and direction as an artiste.
She noted that while her first Grammy nomination came as a shock, the second brought a sense of inner peace and renewed belief in her craft.
Ayra also shared insights into the creative process behind Gimme Dat, revealing that she only discovered the track was built around a sample during the recording session.
The song draws inspiration from 911, originally performed by Wyclef Jean and Mary J. Blige.
According to her, Don Jazzy informed her of the song’s origins, prompting her to research and better understand its background, which added depth to her performance.
She further revealed that the recording session became even more special when she later learned that the studio where the track was recorded once belonged to Wyclef Jean, making the experience feel destined.
Ayra also opened up about the vocal challenges she encountered during the recording process, admitting that her voice struggled on both the first and second days in the studio.
Despite these setbacks, she remained determined to deliver her best, relying on persistence and studio guidance to achieve the final sound.
The singer also disclosed that Gimme Dat was initially intended as a solo track, and she had recorded it several months before Wizkid eventually joined the project.
She explained that once Wizkid came on board, everything aligned perfectly, and the collaboration felt natural and timely.
