Nigerian musician, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe popularly known as Ayra Starr has shared how her Mathematics teacher, a Muslim, encouraged her to join the choir and prophesied that she would be signed by Mavin Records when she was just 14 years old.
In an appearance on Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, hosted by Joey Akan, Ayra Starr mentioned that despite attending a Deeper Life school, where she was scolded for not following religious rules, two of her male teachers supported her passion for music.
She remembered an incident when she painted one of her nails pink and was kneaded down by her teachers, who told her she could not be successful if she continued like that.
However, Ayra Starr stated that her Mathematics teacher’s encouragement played a significant role in her music career.
She disclosed that at 16, after posting a video of herself singing on social media, Mavin Records’ boss, Don Jazzy, reached out to her.
Despite her school’s religious environment, Ayra Starr’s teacher inspired her to pursue her passion, and the prophecy he gave her at 14 eventually came true.
She said:
“I went to a very religious school even though I was not from a religious family. I went to a Deeper Life school. It was a shock but I learned how to live with it. They [some of the teachers] used to beat me. I grew up in a household where we are allowed to speak our truth and ask questions. I can remember they [my teachers in school] will tell me like oh women are not allowed to wear trousers. I will be like, that’s not true. God did not say that. They will be like, ‘what do you know, you this small girl?’.
“One time, I painted my nail pink, just one nail pink and one teacher saw it. I remember they knelt me down and all the teachers were just like, you can never be anything if you continue like this. I was like 13/14 and you have like all these female teachers around me saying that.
“I have a teacher that literally inspired me. He literally said I was going to be signed to Mavin. I was like 14 then and he was like, Mavin is going to sign you, start making videos. And he would just inspire me when I’m singing in school, he would be like, oh sing in the choir. And he was even Muslim but he would tell me to go to church and join the choir.”
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