Libianca
Cameroonian-American singer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji (born July 23, 2000), known mononymously as Libianca, is a Cameroonian-American singer. She is best known for her breakout single "People" (2022). She previously competed in the 21st season of American TV show The Voice in 2021.
July 23, 2000
- Cameroon
- United States
Early life
Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji was born on July 23, 2000 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]
2021–present: The Voice and "People"
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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Theme | Song | Original Artist | Order | Original Air Date | Result |
| Blind Auditions | N/a | "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]
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 and dictators.[12]
Artistry
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.[13][better source needed]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Walk Away |
|
Singles
| 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Other charted songs
Awards
Africa Entertainment Awards USA
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Herself | Best Francophone Female Artist/Group | Nominated | [33] |
| Best Female Artist | Nominated | |||
| "People" | Song of the Year | Nominated |
The Future Awards Africa
MTV Video Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | People | Best Afrobeats | Nominated | [35] |