Nigerian Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr became the first African artist to headline a halftime show at an NFL International Game on Sunday, October 11, performing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

The 24-year-old performed during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars, opening her set with “Heaven Baby” before singing her global hit “Rush”. The performance was broadcast live across the UK on Channel 5 and Sky Sports.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat ahead of the show, Starr described the historic opportunity as “itself is a message”, explaining that artists represent the cultures and communities behind their music. She also planned to showcase songs from her album Starrgirl.

The National Football League (NFL) announced her selection on August 27, making her the first African artist to headline a halftime show in its International Games series. According to Billboard, she was also the first Afrobeats performer selected for the role.

On the field, the Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Philadelphia Eagles 19-17.

Born Oyinkansola Aderibigbe, Starr is a two-time Grammy nominee. Her hit “Rush” earned a nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards and became the most-streamed solo song by a Nigerian female artist on Spotify.

Her London performance adds to her international milestones, including winning Best International Act at the MOBO Awards and performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2024.