21: The World Tour was the debut concert tour by Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, in support of her debut studio album 19 & Dangerous (2021). The tour commenced on 27 July 2023 in Houston, Texas, with the North American leg, followed by dates across Africa and Australia, and concluded with performances throughout Europe in November 2023. Starr described the tour as both significant and "bittersweet," marking her transition from opening act at festivals and supporting other artists to headlining her own shows, while acknowledging the challenges of being away from home and family.[1]
The tour spanned approximately 40 stops across four continents. It marked a milestone for Afrobeats internationally, establishing Starr as the youngest African female artist to headline a global tour. It coincided with the breakout success of her hit single "Rush", which became the most streamed solo song by a Nigerian female artist on Spotify and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards.[2] Prior to the tour's official launch, Starr had been scheduled to perform in Berlin, Copenhagen and Bergen in June that year; however, visa complications forced her to cancel those appearances.[3] While Bergen was not rescheduled, the other cities were later reintegrated into the tour's European leg in November.[4][5]
The show's setlist consisted primarily of songs from 19 & Dangerous, including the hit singles "Rush" and "Bloody Samaritan," as well as tracks from her self-titled EP Ayra Starr (2021) and popular collaborations including "2 Sugar" with Wizkid. Starr's performances showcased her signature fashion-forward aesthetic and bold stage presence, with critics noting her "vibrant vibrato" matched the quality of her studio recordings.[6] The tour received overwhelmingly positive reception, with reviewers praising her vocal performance, energy, and synergy with her band. Many venues reported sold-out shows, and Starr was noted for her extensive audience interaction, including stepping off stage to engage directly with fans.[7]
Background and development
In September 2022, Starr released "Rush" as the lead single from the deluxe edition of her debut album 19 & Dangerous, which followed in October 2022.[8] The deluxe edition consisted of six new tracks, among them a remix of her earlier hit "Bloody Samaritan" featuring Kelly Rowland. "Rush" gained viral popularity on TikTok in early 2023, propelling it to worldwide chart success.[9] The song became the most-streamed solo track by a Nigerian female artist on Spotify and surpassed 100 million views on YouTube, making Starr the youngest African woman to reach that milestone with a single video.[10] "Rush" also spent 13 consecutive weeks on the UK singles chart, peaking in the Top 40 and becoming one of the most internationally successful Afrobeats releases of the year.[6] Leading up to her debut headlining tour, Starr spent 2022 and early 2023 building momentum with high-profile festival appearances. She performed at Coachella in California, Dreamville Festival in North Carolina, Release Athens in Greece, and the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to perform at the latter.[11][12] These gigs helped expand her global audience and served as a proving ground for her live act.[13][14]
Before the tour was formally announced, Starr had been scheduled to sing at several promotional concerts in Europe in June 2023. These included appearances in Berlin and Copenhagen, as well as a festival slot at Bergenfest in Bergen. However, visa complications led to the cancellation of all three appearances.[3] Starr addressed the issue on Instagram, expressing disappointment and assuring fans that she would return with "an unforgettable performance as soon as the issue is resolved."[3] While the Berlin and Copenhagen dates were later rescheduled and absorbed into the November European leg of the tour, the Bergenfest performance could not be reinstated due to the festival’s conclusion prior to the tour’s launch.[15]
Starr officially announced 21: The World Tour on 13 July 2023, calling it her “first headline tour” and highlighting her transition from supporting act to solo headliner.[16] The tour was designed as a global effort, spanning North America, Africa, Australia, and Europe, with the intent of reaching her rapidly growing international fanbase. Presale tickets became available the same day using the access code "MOBSTARRS," a nod to her fanbase, while general ticket sales began on 14 July.[16] Ticket prices averaged around $65 USD, with slight variations depending on region and venue.[17] In the midst of the tour’s European leg, Starr received a Grammy nomination for “Rush” in the newly established Best African Music Performance category at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. She was in Manchester on 10 November 2023, when she received the news. Reflecting on the moment, she described it as “surreal,” explaining that it felt like the culmination of "late nights and endless hours in the studio."[18]
Concert synopsis
The concerts typically opened with "Cast", the introductory track from 19 & Dangerous.[6] At certain venues, such as her London stop at Koko, the show began with a spoken wordvoiceover by Eartha Kitt, which revolved around themes of self-confidence before Starr appeared on stage.[7] The setlist had approximately 18 to 20 songs, drawing primarily from 19 & Dangerous and her self-titled EP. Core performances included "Fashion Killa", "Toxic", and "Away", the latter of which peaked at number four on the TurnTable Top 50 chart.[19] Starr incorporated several of her collaborative hits into the show, including “2 Sugar” with Wizkid and "People" with Libianca.[20] "Beggie Beggie", her duet with CKay, was also a staple of the setlist. Select dates featured live renditions of "Overloading (OVERDOSE)" with labelmates Magixx and Crayon.[6] She also debuted unreleased material during the North American leg, like "Rhythm and Blues" at the New York event.[21] A significant moment in the show occurred when Starr performed a cover of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy", often delivered a cappella and framed as a vocally driven interlude that shifted the concert’s pace. The rendition generated strong audience reaction, particularly at the Toronto and London shows, where she sang the song from a spotlighted balcony accompanied solely by piano.[22][6] The show’s final section mainly featured her most commercially successful singles, including "Bloody Samaritan", "Rush", and "Sability", before concluding with a recording-assisted version of Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You". Shows generally lasted between 60 and 90 minutes.[6][20]
Starr’s stage presentation drew attention for its emphasis on fashion aesthetics, which had by this period become closely associated with her public image and self-described “Sabi Girl” persona.[23] Throughout the tour, she had multiple costume changes, with outfits that integrated contemporary pop styling, metallic and pastel colour palettes, and visual references to her Nigerian heritage. In London, she made her entrance wearing a lilac satin corset with heart-shaped cups and a matching ruffled mini-skirt fitted with beaded trim and chiffon side drapes, accompanied by dancers dressed in gemstone-styled accessories.[7] Other outfits were a two-piece pink ensemble consisting of a cropped textured sleeve top and a layered satin-finish mini-skirt at her Stockholm concert and a rhinestonehalter bra top with cascading crystal fringe and a sequined silver mini-skirt, paired with a diamond close-fitting necklace for her Grammy.com Global Spin series showcase in Los Angeles, where the addition of a wind machine drew comparisons to Beyoncé’s stage effects.[2] The concerts were also supported by a five-piece backing band. Reviewers observed a synergy between Starr and her musicians, noting her ability to maintain continuity across venues of varying capacities.[6] A hype man occasionally appeared onstage to energize audiences, including at her Los Angeles performance where he announced, "Alright L.A., let’s turn this place into an Ayra Starr party."[2] Critics highlighted Starr’s capacity to "allow multiple energies and vibes to seamlessly coexist" through a setlist built around what they described as a substantial and increasingly diverse catalog for an artist of her age.[6]
In addition to her musical and visual staging, the tour was characterized by frequent direct engagement with audiences. During her performance of "Rush" in Hamburg, Starr descended from the stage to interact with concertgoers, holding hands and taking selfies with fans. At the same show, she sang directly to a fan in a wheelchair near the front, kneeling to maintain eye contact as the crowd applauded, a moment widely shared on social media and described as the highlight of the concert.[24] In Chicago, she invited a male fan on stage to dance during her set, later embracing him before he returned to the crowd. Footage from the scene went viral, confirming the tour’s focus on fan connection and inclusivity.[25] Guest performers appeared at specific venues. At Koko, Leigh-Anne Pinnock joined Starr on stage to render their collaboration "My Love," which served as the concert finale. Additional support came from Darkoo, Lifesize Teddy, and Brazy.[6] In Germany, Berlin-based Afrobeat collective Freak de l’Afrique served as the opening act for the gig at Astra Kulturhaus and was also billed as a special guest at Zoom, Frankfurt.[26]
Critical reception
21: The World Tour received predominantly positive reviews from music and entertainment critics, who praised its production value and genre-blending setlist, as well as Starr’s vocal ability, stage composure, and rapport with audiences. Timi Sotire from The Guardian awarded the concert four out of five stars. Sotire praised Starr's "vibrant vibrato" and her "synergy with her band and dancers," contrasting her show favorably against what she described as "lacklustre concert experiences from some of her Nigerian counterparts." Sotire described the set as "an ethereal experience," but noted pacing concerns, writing that the hour-and-twenty-minute runtime "tests the patience of some," and that "tetchy shuffling breaks out towards the finale, taking the gloss off her biggest hits." She also referred to the closing Whitney Houston tribute as "corny."[6] Despite The Guardian's reservations, other reviews of the same show were mostly favorable. 1883 Magazine called it "a celestial journey from start to finish", stating that Starr was "in her full star potential" and that her voice "stunned throughout, never missing a beat and never missing a moment."[27]GUAP observed that she projected "self assured confidence and star quality," maintaining audience engagement through "a mixture of beautiful vocals, sharp choreography and vulnerable anecdotes."[7] Reviewing the Birmingham O2 Institute gig, Sarah Akomanyi of We Plug Good Music remarked that Starr "exuded confidence and charisma" from the outset, commending her ability to glide from "afro beat infused tracks to soulful ballads."[28]NSS Magazine's Jason Kwame emphasized Starr's commanding stage technique, describing her as someone who "struts boldly" and "owns every corner of the stage" while maintaining "record-ready vocals on stage – full of trills and passionate high pitches."[18]
Commentators found certain moments to be especially impactful. Starr's a cappella rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy", performed from the Koko balcony, was one of such example, receiving particular acclaim from both 1883 Magazine and GUAP.[27][7]NotjustOk, covering the Toronto set, wrote that Starr "shows off the impressive range of her voice while delivering this amazing song," pointing out that she rarely gets the opportunity to do so due to the pop and afrobeats focus of her catalog, but that the stripped-back ballad gave fans "a treat."[22] Guest appearances during some performances were also highlighted by 1883 Magazine as having "further elevated the show’s energy," while Starr’s closing rendition of "I Will Always Love You" was interpreted by the same outlet as "a message to her fans and supporters who have been alongside her journey thus far." Reviewers also framed Starr as a rising force within transnational pop music. GUAP called her "the embodiment of her name – a true new age pop star," adding that "if her show is any example of where the rest of her career is to go, her future is extremely bright."[7] Contextualizing the tour as her first headlining run at age 21, 1883 Magazine concluded that she "has the quality that will undoubtedly put her alongside some of the best to do it" and affirmed she is "a star in every sense of the word."[27]We Plug Good Music considered the show "a testament to her strength as an artist," and commented that she "portrayed every aspect of being a true pop star."[28] Meanwhile, NSS Magazine opined that her vocals “are strong enough to go toe to toe with any [male] in her genre."[18]
Beyond formal reviews, the tour also attracted attention for Starr’s fashion choices and stage persona. Legit.ng documented social media backlash after her Stockholm concert, where she wore a pink two-piece outfit with a cropped top and satin mini-skirt. Responding to male critics on X (formerly Twitter), Starr wrote: "A bunch of useless men in my CS telling me what to wear and what I shouldn't […] everything I do is for the girlies […] you are not the target audience! Disgusting." The exchange prompted wider discussion about double standards, with one fan arguing: "Y'all condemn her but praise Cardi for dressing similar […] the double standard for African men."[23] Audience reception across most stops was documented as enthusiastic, with Starr consistently engaging with fans. QCity Metro reported that during her Charlotte, North Carolina stop, she told the crowd they were "one of [her] best crowds so far" and indicated that she would “definitely return to Charlotte" on a future tour.[20]We Plug Good Music found that Starr "regularly interacted with the audience" and that such moments "bridged the gap from fan and artist," with the writer observing that she "used all the space on the stage, making sure to make eye contact with her fans on either sides of the room, and not neglecting the people up on the balcony."[28]Style Rave covered a widely praised scene during the Hamburg show, where Starr left the stage during "Rush" to interact directly with fans, "holding hands and taking selfies with them." The publication pointed to the time when she knelt beside a disabled fan in a wheelchair while singing, calling it a "compassionate act" and one of the night's most memorable experiences. When asked by NSS Magazine to name her favorite stop, Starr replied that "the love [she] felt in London was exceptional," while still maintaining that "every city holds a unique energy."[18]
Set list
This set list is representative of the concerts performed in New York City, London, and Brussels, and includes additional songs confirmed at various dates throughout the tour. It does not represent all concerts.[29]
On 2 September 2023, Starr debuted "Rhythm & Blues" as an unreleased track at Webster Hall in New York.
Tour dates
North America
The North American leg of the tour commenced on 27 July 2023 in Houston, Texas, and included stops in major cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, New York City, Charlotte, Vancouver, and more. During the Charlotte performance on 7 September, Starr addressed the audience directly, describing them as "one of my best crowds so far" and expressing appreciation for their energy. She also indicated plans to return on a future occasion.[20] The leg concluded on 19 September 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[15]
Following a short break, the tour resumed on 30 September 2023 in Gold Coast, Australia, where Starr performed at Doug Jennings Park as part of her first visit to the country. She had been announced as a performer at the Rocking the Daisies festival in South Africa, initially scheduled for 6–8 October across Cape Town and Johannesburg. However, due to severe weather disruptions, the festival was postponed to 17–19 November.[30] Starr did not appear at the rescheduled dates, as she had confirmed performances in Europe during the same period, including shows in Rome on 17 November, Copenhagen on 18 November, and Barcelona on 19 November.[15] Other African dates proceeded as planned, including appearances in Zimbabwe at Borrowdale Racecourse on 14 October, and Bingu National Stadium in Malawi on 15 October.[31]
On 22 October 2023, Starr performed at Ilaro Court, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Barbados, during a cultural event held on the island.[32] The African leg concluded with a concert in Abuja, Nigeria, on 27 October 2023.[15]
The European leg was the most extensive portion of the tour, encompassing cities across multiple countries between mid-October and late November 2023. Following the resolution of visa complications that led to postponed shows in June prior to the tour's launch, Starr went on to complete dates in Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany, among others.[3] In Stockholm, she acknowledged the crowd’s reception via social media, stating: "Stockholm has set the bar so high! Thank you for giving me all the energy I needed."[23]
On 13 November, Starr performed at Koko in London—her third appearance following the announcement of her Grammy nomination—alongside British singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock who served as a surprise guest. The two delivered a collaborative set to a sold-out crowd.[6] Starr continued to Pakhus 11 in Copenhagen on 18 November, followed by stops in Barcelona on 19 November and Paris on 21 November.[15] The Berlin concert, initially postponed from its original June date, was held on 23 November 2023 at Astra Kulturhaus and featured local Afro-dance collective Freak de l’Afrique as the opening act.[26] Starr subsequently performed in Hamburg at Große Freiheit 36 on 26 November and in Frankfurt at ZOOM on 27 November, both to capacity audiences.[24][33]
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