Ayra Starr has made history by becoming the first Nigerian female artist to grace the U.S. Billboard 200 Album chart. Her sophomore album, The Year I Turned 21, debuted at No. 195 on Monday.
The Billboard charts celebrated her achievement in a tweet:
“Debuts on this week’s #Billboard200:
- No. 2, @ATEEZofficial Golden Hour: Part.1 (EP)
- No. 5, @Shaboozeys Jeans 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″
This album also marks the first project by a female Nigerian artist to debut on the UK Official Album Chart, where it entered at No. 80, and it debuted at No. 72 in France.
In comparison, Burna Boy’s Love, Damini, which peaked at No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard 200, remains the highest-peaking Nigerian album in the U.S. It is also the first Nigerian album to top the UK Album Chart.
Ayra Starr’s groundbreaking achievement highlights her rising global influence and marks a significant milestone for Nigerian artists in the international music scene.