Ayra Starr Opens Up On How Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis Shaped Her Childhood

Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr, born Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, has spoken candidly about the impact of unstable electricity supply on her upbringing, saying life could have been very different if she had grown up with steady power.

Speaking at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York City, the singer reflected on how persistent electricity challenges affected her education and her family’s livelihood while growing up in Nigeria.

Ayra Starr revealed that her grandmother sold tomatoes and peppers, and because there was no reliable electricity for storage, they were often forced to sell the goods quickly before they spoiled.

“Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues,” she said. “My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and I used to assist her. We had to sell it quickly because we didn’t have electricity to store them.”

The singer noted that although the harsh conditions helped shape her resilience, access to stable electricity would have significantly improved her childhood experience.

“The harsh experience made me who I am today because I had to find ways to do what I had to do without the comfort of electricity,” she explained.

Ayra Starr added that something as simple as having a fan or air conditioning while studying after school would have made a major difference in her life.

“Growing up, having electricity would have made a big difference. If I came back from school and I had AC or even a fan in the heat while doing my assignments, that would have made a big difference,” she stated.

She also called on African leaders to prioritise stable electricity supply across the continent, stressing that reliable power would greatly improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and Africans.