Ayra Starr Becomes the Fourth Female Artist to Top the Afrobeats Power Ranking

Ayra Starr has topped NotjustOk's Afrobeats Power Ranking for August 2026, becoming only the fourth female artist ever to lead the monthly chart and displacing Burna Boy from the summit in her first appearance at the top, Notjustok reports.

What the Afrobeats Power Ranking Measures

The Afrobeats Power Ranking is NotjustOk's monthly tracking of the genre's biggest performers, weighing streaming numbers, chart placements and overall cultural reach rather than a single metric. Ayra Starr's climb to the top was driven by her third studio album, Starrgirl, released 14th August 2026, and in particular by "Heaven Baby," her collaboration with ZAYN, which generated more than 937,000 daily Spotify streams at its peak and debuted at number one on the UK Official British Asian Music Chart, Notjustok reports.

Starrgirl Album Cover. Source: @ayrastarr on Instagram

The Short List of Women Who Have Topped the Ranking

Ayra Starr joins a list of only three other women to have led the ranking since it began: Tyla, the South African star, who topped it in February 2025 and again in December 2025; Moliy, the Ghanaian-American artist, who led in July 2025; and Tems, who topped the ranking twice, in September 2025 and February 2026, Notjustok notes. Ayra Starr's appearance marks the first time she has held the top spot herself.

Why This Ranking Matters

Notjustok describes Ayra Starr as one of the most globally decorated female Afrobeats stars of her generation, pointing to her Grammy nominations, including for Best New Artist at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Topping a ranking built on streaming performance and chart reach, rather than a single award or release, reflects a sustained pull across markets rather than one big moment, and "Heaven Baby" crossing onto a UK chart built around British Asian audiences is itself a sign of how far her reach now extends beyond Afrobeats' usual listening base.

What to Watch Next

With Starrgirl still fresh and "Heaven Baby" continuing to perform internationally, the open question is whether Ayra Starr holds the top spot into the ranking's next cycle or whether the position changes hands again, as it has every month so far in 2026. PINCHED did not have a comment from Ayra Starr's camp ahead of publication.

This article is a news report, and PINCHED has not rated Starrgirl.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Ayra Starr Top the Afrobeats Power Ranking?

Yes. Ayra Starr topped NotjustOk's Afrobeats Power Ranking for August 2026, becoming the fourth female artist ever to lead the monthly chart.

What Album Drove Ayra Starr's Rise on the Ranking?

Her third studio album, Starrgirl, released 14th August 2026, drove the climb, particularly her ZAYN collaboration "Heaven Baby."

Who Are the Other Women to Have Topped the Afrobeats Power Ranking?

Tyla, Moliy and Tems are the only other women to have led the ranking, with Tems topping it twice.

How Well Did "Heaven Baby" Perform?

"Heaven Baby" generated more than 937,000 daily Spotify streams at its peak and debuted at number one on the UK Official British Asian Music Chart.

Who Did Ayra Starr Displace at the Top of the Ranking?

Ayra Starr displaced Burna Boy, who had previously held the top spot on the ranking.