Cooking Nigerian foods relaxes me and keeps me centred – Ayra Starr

Nigerian singer Ayra Starr has talked about how her love of preparing traditional Nigerian food affects her health, especially when she’s on tour.

Ayra Starr, a self-confessed fan of Nigerian cuisine, particularly yam and egg dishes, stressed the value of eating at home when travelling.

Speaking with fellow vocalist Coco Jones, the two performers talked about their individual methods of relaxation after long days, as well as their musical experiences and professional development.

Ayra Starr emphasised the importance of taking little breaks to unwind, saying:

“One thing I’m going to do when I’m on the road is to make sure to have a TV show so I can disappear for three minutes to watch it; I’d watch it on my phone”.

She also stressed the significance of maintaining a connection to her cultural heritage through food, she stated:

“I also try to eat Nigerian food wherever I am because it keeps me happy. I be like, ‘I don’t want to eat burgers again. Are we eating burgers again?’ please.”

“Sometimes I just want to eat my food, and sometimes I try to stay in serviced apartments whenever I can so that I can cook. I feel like that keeps me and centres me. So even if I’m tired from a shoe and it’s late, even if it’s 9, 10, or 11 p.m., cooking is relaxing for me.”