(Ayra Starr speaks at Global Citizen. Photo by X.com)
Popular Nigerian singer Ayra Starr shared a heartfelt reflection on her humble beginnings while speaking at the Global Citizen NOW event in New York City, recalling how the lack of electricity during her childhood had a direct and painful impact on her family’s livelihood.
She described how her grandmother depended on selling tomatoes and pepper to make ends meet, but without access to power for refrigeration, the produce had to be sold hastily before it spoiled.
The young Ayra was part of that struggle, working to move the goods quickly to avoid losses.
Recounting the experience, she emphasized that something as basic as a stable electricity supply would have made a significant difference to her family’s quality of life and financial stability while she was growing up.
“My grandma used to sell tomatoes and pepper; we had to sell it quick because we didn’t have electricity to store them… I had to find ways to do what I had to do. Growing up, having electricity would’ve made a big difference.”
– Ayra Starr speaks at Global Citizen NOW in NYC pic.twitter.com/Cb98Ag12lM
— Pulse Nigeria (@PulseNigeria247) May 14, 2026