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Even the people doing the mentoring can end up learning a few lessons from their students.
That appears to be the case for Nigerian music executive and Mavin Records boss Don Jazzy, who has revealed that meeting Afrobeats star Ayra Starr had a profound impact on his life.
Speaking about the singer, Don Jazzy did not hold back on the praise. He described Ayra Starr as someone who changed his life and said he “blesses the day” their paths crossed.
Coming from a music executive who has spent years discovering, developing and nurturing talent, that is no small compliment.
Don Jazzy has watched countless artists enter the music industry with big dreams, but Ayra Starr’s journey appears to have affected him on a more personal level. Her talent, confidence and approach to music have seemingly given him a fresh perspective on the very industry he has spent years helping to shape.
Ayra Starr arrived on the scene with a distinctive sound, youthful energy and an unapologetic sense of identity. She quickly established herself as more than just another promising singer, building a global audience while delivering music centred on confidence, ambition, self-expression and resilience.
For Don Jazzy, who operates on the other side of the industry where contracts, marketing, branding and business decisions are part of the daily menu, Ayra Starr may have served as a reminder of why the music business exists in the first place.
Sometimes, when you spend enough time worrying about the numbers, you can forget about the music.
Ayra Starr’s creativity and fearless approach may have reminded Don Jazzy of the excitement that comes with discovering an artist who simply wants to create, experiment and connect with people.
Her personality may also have played a role. Ayra Starr is known for her confidence and willingness to express herself, qualities that have helped her navigate the pressures that come with fame and global attention.
Watching a younger artist stand firmly in her identity could offer valuable lessons even to someone with decades of experience.
Don Jazzy’s comments therefore paint an interesting picture of the relationship between mentor and mentee. While he helped provide Ayra Starr with the platform and guidance to grow, she appears to have given him something equally valuable: a fresh perspective.
His declaration that “Ayra Starr changed my life” and “I bless the day I met her” suggests that the impact went far beyond music releases, chart positions and business meetings.
It is a reminder that mentorship is rarely a one-way street. Sometimes the person you help discover ends up helping you rediscover something about yourself.
And in Don Jazzy’s case, Ayra Starr may have done exactly that.
