The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, spoke during a conversation on equitable energy access at the Global Citizen NOW summit held in New York City on Thursday. During the session, moderated by Zain Asher, Ayra Starr discussed the realities of growing up in Nigeria and how inconsistent electricity became part of everyday life for many families.
According to the singer, adapting to frequent blackouts and the absence of basic comforts at home influenced her resilience and outlook on life from an early age.
“The experience for me definitely made me who I am today because I’ve had to find ways to do things. I had to do without the comfort of electricity and all of that,” she said.
She explained that simple things many children around the world take for granted — such as using a fan, air conditioner, or having steady lighting to study — were often uncertain while growing up.
“If I came back from school and I was able to have AC or even fan in the heat and do my assignments, that would have made a big difference.”
The Grammy-nominated singer stressed that her story reflects the experience of many young Nigerians who have had to navigate daily life around unreliable electricity supply.
“Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues or not having to depend on electricity to do a lot of things,” she said.
Ayra Starr also highlighted the economic effects of poor electricity access on small businesses and local traders, recalling how her grandmother struggled to preserve perishable goods due to the absence of refrigeration and stable power.
“My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and we would have to sell it quick because there was no light.”
Her comments touched on a wider issue affecting several African countries, where inconsistent electricity supply continues to impact education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and quality of life, especially in underserved communities.
Speaking further at the summit, Ayra Starr admitted that her partnership with Global Citizen had opened her eyes to broader conversations around renewable energy and sustainable power solutions.
“Before this, I didn’t really know much about global energy solutions, I’m not going to lie. But I’m learning so much and it’s so inspiring,” she said.
She expressed optimism about Africa’s young population and their ability to drive innovation across the continent, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
“We are a lot of young people in Africa. They are very eager to work and change the continent for the better.”
The singer also noted that conversations around clean energy could inspire younger Africans to become problem-solvers within their communities.
“A young girl can be watching this right now at home and it’s like, okay, let me try and find solar energy solutions for my country too,” she said.
In a previously recorded message played during the event, Ayra Starr described her participation at the summit as “a full circle moment,” referencing her appearance at the Global Citizen Power Hour Planet concert in Paris in 2023.
She praised Global Citizen for bringing together artists, political leaders, business executives, and activists to focus on social impact initiatives.
“Global Citizen brings together major international artists, committed world leaders and CEOs and business executives who put people over profit.”
One of the most emotional moments from her remarks came when she reflected on childhood memories of waiting for electricity just to watch television after school.
“I would have to wait until 6:00 p.m. for the power to come on so I could watch Hannah Montana.”
She added that while she eventually had some access to electricity, many children across Africa still grow up completely without power.
“But even I was lucky. Some children in Africa have no access to light at all. No child should be left in the dark. They need light to walk, study, and practice. They need light to reach their dreams.”