By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
Nigerian music executive Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy, has said singer Ayra Starr changed his life, years after he discovered her through an Instagram freestyle and signed her to Mavin Records.
Don Jazzy made the disclosure on Friday, 21 August, 2026 while reacting to a post on X by a user, @_Fabianszn, who shared an old photograph of Ayra Starr and praised the music executive for helping to shape her career.
The user had suggested that Don Jazzy’s intervention had saved Ayra Starr from remaining a kindergarten teacher, prompting the Mavin boss to reflect on the impact the singer has had on his own life.
Recounting how their paths crossed, Don Jazzy said he was grateful that he was introduced to Ayra Starr’s Instagram freestyle, which eventually led to her signing with his record label.
He described the singer as someone who had made a significant difference in his life, while expressing his continued pride in her growth and achievements.
Don Jazzy said he blessed the day he was shown the freestyle, stressing that Ayra Starr had been nothing but a dream to work with.
The music executive signed Ayra Starr to Mavin Records in 2020 after her Instagram freestyles and song covers attracted attention online.
Since joining the label, Ayra Starr has grown into one of Nigeria’s prominent Afrobeats acts, with her career extending beyond the Nigerian music scene.
Don Jazzy’s latest remarks therefore highlight the relationship from another perspective, showing that while his mentorship played a major role in Ayra Starr’s career, the singer’s subsequent success has also had a profound impact on the life and career of the music executive who discovered her.
