Ayra Starr Becomes First African Artist with RIAA Latin Diamond Certification for ‘Santa’

On July 19, 2025, Nigerian singer Ayra Starr made history as the first African artist to receive a Latin Diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for her collaborative track “Santa” with Rvssian and Rauw Alejandro. The song surpassed 35 million streams, earning the prestigious certification and placing Starr alongside Rema, whose song “Bubalu” is Platinum-certified, as one of the few African artists with RIAA Latin accolades.

“Santa,” a fusion of Afrobeats and reggaeton with bilingual Spanish and English lyrics, has achieved global success, securing multiple Platinum certifications in Spain and Mexico. It reached No. 1 on the Spanish chart and peaked at No. 2 in Colombia, Ecuador, and Central America, highlighting its widespread appeal and Starr’s growing international influence.

Source: African Publicity