Ayra Starr on her NFL history-making half-time show

Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr has already broken numerous records, and her NFL half-time performance this weekend is set to level up her list again.

The Nigerian star will become the first African artist to headline one of the American football league’s international games when the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday.

Ahead of the performance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Starr told BBC Newsbeat her history-making performance “itself is a message”.

Earlier this year, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny used his Super Bowl half-time show to celebrate Latin American culture.

The 32-year-old also made history by becoming the first musician to perform entirely in Spanish at the sporting event, normally the most-watched each year on US TV.

Starr said it’s “very important” for singers to seize opportunities like this.

“At the end of the day, as artists, we speak for the culture and we speak for the people that listen to us,” she added.

“And we have to represent any way that seems fit, that they need.”

She didn’t want to give away too much about her performance, but confirmed it would feature tracks from her new studio album, Starrgirl, which was released in August.

“Sunday is gonna be amazing,” she said.

“I’m still in rehearsals. It’s a lot of work we’re putting in so I’m really excited.”