Libianca | |
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Born | Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji 2001 (age 22–23) |
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Musical career | |
Origin | Bamenda, Cameroon |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2019–present |
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Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji (born 2001), known mononymously as Libianca, is a Cameroonian and American singer. She is best known for her breakout Afrobeats single " People" (2022). She previously competed in the 21st season of American TV show The Voice in 2021.
Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji was born in 2001 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [2] [3] In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, Libianca recalled that when she was four years old, her family experienced issues with immigration. [3] Her mother decided to have the family relocate to Bamenda, Cameroon, before they could be deported. [4] In her upbringing in Bamenda, Libianca sung in gospel choirs and attended a boarding school, where she learned how to play the guitar. [5]
In 2021, Libianca competed on the twenty-first season of NBC's The Voice, where Blake Shelton was her coach. [6] [7] She made her way to the top 20 before being eliminated. [8] Her covers of " Everything I Wanted" and " Woman" on the show were later released as singles via West Side Creative Agency.[ citation needed]
Performances on The Voice season 21 | ||||||
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Round | Theme | Song | Original Artist | Order | Original Air Date | Result |
Blind Auditions | — | " Good Days" | SZA | 5.8 | October 4, 2021 | Ariana and Blake turned; Joined Team Blake |
Battles (Top 48) | " Save Your Tears" (vs. Tommy Edwards) | The Weeknd | 8.2 | October 12, 2021 | Saved by coach | |
Knockouts (Top 32) | " Everything I Wanted" | Billie Eilish | 11.5 | October 25, 2021 | ||
Live Playoffs (Top 20) | " Woman" | Doja Cat | 15.17 | November 8, 2021 | Eliminated |
Libianca signed to 5K Records and Sony in 2022. [9] In December of that year, she released " People", a song inspired by her cyclothymia. The song debuted at No. 2 on the US Billboard Afrobeats chart, at No. 1 in UK Afrobeats chart, peaked at No. 2 in UK Official chart, and received wide attention across social media. [10]
Libianca performed as an opening at Alicia Keys' 2023 Keys to the Summer Tour. [11]
Libianca takes influence from genres prevalent in her upbringing, such as Cameroonian music, Nigerian music, and highlife. She describes her music as an "intersection of R&B, Afrobeats, [and] soul". Her songwriting has been praised by publications such as Complex UK for its honesty. [12][ better source needed]
In April 2024, Libianca announced that she was postponing her North American tour following death threats for performing with a Cameroonian flag issued by separatists fighting in the Anglophone Crisis. The separatists consider the Cameroonian flag brandished by the singer as a sign of support for President Paul Biya, one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. [13]
Title | Details |
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Walk Away |
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Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS [14] |
CAN [15] |
FRA [16] |
NLD [17] |
NZ [18] |
SWE [19] |
SWI [17] |
UK [20] |
US [21] |
WW [22] | |||
"Level" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"My Place" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Revenge" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"Thank You" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
"Special Lovin'" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
" People" | 2022 | 22 | 39 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 80 | 20 | |
"Jah" [31] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
NZ Hot [32] | |||
"Mistaken" (with Oxlade and Chlöe) |
2024 | 16 | Walk Away |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
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2023 | Herself | Best Francophone Female Artist/Group | Pending | [33] |
Best Female Artist | Pending | |||
"People" | Song of the Year | Pending |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
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2023 | Herself | Prize for Music | Pending | [34] |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
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2023 | People | Best Afrobeats | Nominated | [35] |
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