By Naomi Salami

Song Title: Sability

Artist: Ayra Starr

Genre: Afro-pop

Release Date: 10, February, 2023

Music label: Mavin Records

Background

Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, popularly known as Ayra Starr, has stormed the internet once again with her hit single, Sability.

At the age of 16, the talented artiste began working as a model for Quove Model Management. She began sharing song covers on social media, where Don Jazzy, the record executive of Mavin Records, spotted her in December 2019. Ayra’s unique creativity and versatility, no doubt, dazed the Marvin Records boss who wasted no time bringing her board to join the star-studded Mavin Records team at the age of 18. Penetrating the industry was no big deal, given the age card, which enabled her to easily connect with the Gen Z. Interestingly, she has been able to sustain this tempo till date.

Ayra launched her debut single, Away, in January 2021, which opened the door to stardom for the songstress. She is well-known for the popular songs Rush, DITR, Overloading, My Baby, Ase, Love Don’t Cost a Dime, and Sare, as well as numerous collaborations with Wizkid, Kelly Rowland, and other well-known musicians on the Mavin Records label.

About Sability

Sability is Ayra’s latest single and it is a head-bopper. With its catchy chorus and the sampling of the beat of Awilo Longomba’s hit record ‘Coupé Bibamba’, which gives it its danceable tune. The song brought back feelings of nostalgia, especially for those who grew up vibing to the Coupe Bibamba. On TikTok, the sound has become an anthem as many TikTokers adopted the song as a dance challenge to tell and share the story. Below is a sample of the chorus.

Credit: Ayra Starr on YouTube

Espiritu Fortuna

I go make you jo dada

Shey you getty the power

Sweet passi, amala ketu

Shinji kagawa

Jesu kristi loba wa

Gat dem falling yakata

You know as e sabi girl dey do

Quite frankly, the song describes Ayra as the “IT” girl of her generation and far bigger than anyone could have ever imagined. It discusses how she keeps making strides and serves as a reminder to everyone that she is still in charge despite any animosity she may encounter from her detractors. Even if the song’s lyrics may not be particularly brilliant, you can’t help but sing along because it has a way of becoming stuck in your head.  The music video, which was directed by Earthboi and produced by Leke Alabi-Isama, beautifully showcases Ayra’s creativity. The lighting, together with  cinematography, was also great which also complemented the message of the song, which was in line with Ayraa’s theme as a young Afro-pop star. Ayraa also displayed her alluring dance moves, which came effortlessly to her. The cosmetics and costume crew are praiseworthy for creating an authentic African style that complemented the sound in the song.

Drawbacks

The song’s lyrics lacked a little bit of depth, and it appears as though it had simply put rhymes together to make the song whole. The mention of Shinji Kagawa in the chorus doesn’t seem to correlate with the subject of the song and any competent lyricist can notice this issue.

Opinion

Sability, nonetheless, is a song that hooks you with its engaging sound, pace, and memorable lyrics. It comes across as this season’s anthem. Ayra demonstrated her distinctiveness and flavour in the new industry, even though she is still relatively new to it. She was also able to convince his managers and fans alike that despite being young, her age is not a disadvantage but rather a strength. She is likely to appear more frequently this year. Sability may not be number one on the charts but it is a track you can’t miss. Go and give it a listen.

Meiza Nigeria