By Cynthia Abah
Ayra Starr has made history as the first Nigerian female artist to grace the U.S. Billboard 200 Album chart. The singer achieved this milestone with her sophomore album, ‘The Year I Turned 21,’ which debuted at No. 195 on Monday.
The official Billboard charts tweeted the debut placements: “Debuts on this week’s #Billboard200:
- No. 2, @ATEEZofficial Golden Hour: Part.1 (EP)
- No. 5, @ShaboozeysJeans Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going
- No. 17, @themarias Submarine
- No. 102, @crowdermusic The Exile
- No. 169, @carinleonofi Boca Chueca, Vol. 1
- No. 195, @ayrastarr The Year I Turned 21.”
In addition to her Billboard success, Ayra Starr’s album is the first project by a female Nigerian artist to debut on the UK Official Album chart, where it entered at No. 80. It also debuted at No. 72 in France.
This achievement comes on the heels of Burna Boy’s ‘Love, Damini,’ which reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200, the highest peak for a Nigerian album in the U.S., and was the first Nigerian album to top the UK album chart. Ayra Starr’s groundbreaking entry continues to highlight the global impact and growing recognition of Nigerian music and artists.
