Her comments, candid and personal, have since divided opinion online, reigniting a familiar debate about how African artists are expected to represent the continent on global stages.
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Ayra Starr at Global Citizen NOW
“My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper; we had to sell it quick because we didn’t have electricity to store them… I had to find ways to do what I had to do. Growing up, having electricity would’ve made a big difference.”
– Ayra Starr speaks at Global Citizen NOW in NYC pic.twitter.com/Cb98Ag12lM
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) May 14, 2026
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Critics condemn Ayra Starr’s statement on electricity in Nigeria
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Ayra Starr with Adam Lambert on Global Citizen NOW