Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has spoken about growing up without stable electricity in Nigeria, saying the country’s power challenges shaped her childhood and continue to affect millions of African children.
Speaking during a conversation on equitable energy access at the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York City, the singer reflected on how unreliable electricity influenced her upbringing and daily life.
“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 during an interview with journalist Zain Asher.
The singer, whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, said simple comforts such as air conditioning or a fan could have made a major difference 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,” she added.
Ayra Starr said electricity shortages were a common experience for many Nigerian children.
“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.
The 23-year-old also described how unreliable power affected small businesses, recalling her grandmother’s struggles selling tomatoes and pepper without refrigeration.
“My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and we would have to sell it quick because there was no light,” she said.
During the summit, Ayra Starr said she had recently become more informed about renewable energy and global power solutions through her work with Global Citizen.
“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 hope that more young Africans would help develop energy solutions across the continent.
“We are a lot of young people in Africa. They are very eager to work and change the continent for the better,” she added.
In a previously recorded video shown at the event, the singer recalled waiting for electricity as a child so she could watch the Disney television show Hannah Montana.
“I would have to wait for the power to come on so I could watch Hannah Montana,” she said.
“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.”
