Nigerian musician Ayra Starr has revealed how her mother inspired her to take action by telling her that she will pursue music.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the Grammy-nominated performer recalled how her mother had agreed to let her pursue music as long as she completed formal schooling first. Ayra Starr was able to enter the university at the tender age of 14.
Sharing the story, she stated: “I got into the university at 14. My mother emphasized that I needed to complete my education before I could pursue a music career. Many Nigerians typically complete their secondary education at the age of 15 or 16. I understood that I would never be able to pursue a career as a teenage pop sensation if I put off finishing my secondary education until I was fifteen. I also aspired to be a teenage pop superstar. I then went with my older brother to write JAMB, or what you guys called the SAT in this country.”
Ayra Starr wrote her examinations because she was keen to become a young pop star, and her mother was happy with her achievements.
“Honestly, I didn’t get into all these Ivy League colleges with this result, but it was good enough to get by. It satisfied my mother’s needs. I was accepted to a reputable university. I took the course for three years. International Relations was it, she remarked.
The singer also revealed to the host that her mother had “blackmailed” her into doing things, like moving to Lagos, using music.
Between giggles, she said, “I feel like my mum has been using music to blackmail me since I was a child.” “This is what you have to do if you want to be a musician,” she said. I didn’t want to move from Benin Republic to Lagos at first, but she persuaded me that it was the city of music. And the year I got signed, I also started making music covers online just after I graduated.”