Nigerian Grammy-nominated singer, Ayra Starr has recounted how her mother used music to blackmail her into taking her education seriously.
She said that ever since she was a child with the dream of being a pop star, her mum always told her that if she wants to do music, she would have to bag a bachelor’s degree first.
Ayra Starr disclosed this in an interview with Billboard, adding that she was also convinced to move from Benin Republic to Lagos because it is the ‘land of music.’
She said: “I feel like my mum has been using music to blackmail me since I was a child. She was like, ‘If you want to do music, you have to do this.’
When she suggested we relocate to Lagos from Benin Republic, I declined initially, but she convinced me that Lagos is the land of music. She insisted that if I wanted to do music, I would have to finish school first.”
In the same interview, the Afrobeats singer whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe revealed that she was 14 years old when she gained admission into the university.
The ‘Rush’ hit-maker further said she sat for JAMB exam together with her elder brother and with her result, she got admitted into a good school.
Ayra Starr said; “I got into the university at 14. Usually, a lot of people in Nigeria finish secondary school at 15 or 16. I knew that if I waited till I was 15 [before completing my secondary school], I wouldn’t be able to be a teenage pop star.”
Watch interview below:
