The harsh reality of Nigeria, shaped my life – Ayra Starr

Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Starr has spoken candidly about how unreliable electricity shaped her childhood and built her resilience.

Speaking about her upbringing, she recalled helping her grandmother sell tomatoes and pepper, explaining that they often had to sell quickly because there was no electricity to preserve the goods.

She described the experience as something that influenced her outlook on life and ability to adapt to difficult situations.

“Every Nigerian child has faced some type of electricity issues. My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper and I used to assist her. We had to sell it quickly because we didn’t have electricity to store them. The harsh experience made me who I am today. Because I had to find ways to do what I had to do without the comfort of electricity. Growing up, having electricity would have made a big difference. If I came back from school and I had AC or even a fan in the heat while doing my assignments, that would have made a big difference,” she said.

She noted that access to basic amenities like stable electricity would have significantly improved her ability to study and live more comfortably during her school years, especially in Nigeria’s often intense heat.