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.
Libianca | |
|---|---|
 Libianca in 2023 | |
| Born | Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji July 23, 2000 |
| Citizenship |
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| Musical career | |
| Origin | Bamenda, Cameroon |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2019–present |
| Labels |
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Early life
editLibianca 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"
editIn 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 | — | "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]
Artistry
editLibianca 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]
Death threats
editIn 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.[13]
Discography
editExtended plays
edit| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Walk Away |
|
Singles
edit| 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
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ Hot [32] | |||
| "Mistaken" (with Oxlade and Chlöe) |
2024 | 16 | Walk Away |
Awards
editAfrica Entertainment Awards USA
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Herself | Best Francophone Female Artist/Group | Pending | [33] |
| Best Female Artist | Pending | |||
| "People" | Song of the Year | Pending |
The Future Awards Africa
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Herself | Prize for Music | Pending | [34] |
MTV Video Music Awards
edit| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | People | Best Afrobeats | Nominated | [35] |
References
edit- ^ Conteh, Mankaprr (January 20, 2023). "Libianca Is the Afro Soul Siren Who Can Do Everything". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ Ihejirika, Uzoma (January 23, 2023). "Best New Music: Libianca's "People (Check On Me)" Gets Real About Mental Health". The NATIVE. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ a b Edu, DJ (March 4, 2023). "Africa Live this week: 27 February-5 March 2023". BBC News. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ "Libianca: Di true story behind di star of 'more alcohol' song, People". BBC News Pidgin (in Pidgin (Cameroon)). March 11, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Buchan, Kit (July 29, 2023). "One to watch: Libianca". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Henderson, Cydney. "'The Voice': Blake Shelton 'heartbroken' after eliminating his own 'God's Country' singer". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ Donnellan, Sara (October 7, 2021). "WATCH: 'The Voice' Contestant Picks Coach Based on a Sign from God". Heavy.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ Tribune, Neal Justin Star (November 10, 2021). "Minnesota contestant Libianca eliminated from 'The Voice'". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ "Rising Star Libianca Shares Visuals To Hit 'People' – OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
- ^ Rys, Heran Mamo,Dan; Mamo, Heran; Rys, Dan (January 24, 2023). "Afrobeats Fresh Picks of the Month: Burna Boy, Libianca, Aya Nakamura & More". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Portugal, Andrew (May 13, 2023). "'The Voice' Alum Libianca Set to Perform Alongside Alicia Keys on the Keys to the Summer Tour". Talent Recap. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
- ^ Aklilu, Rahel. "Libianca Takes The World!". Complex. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ Wedaeli, Chibelushi. "Libianca on 'horrific threats' over Cameroon's Anglophone war". BBC News. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of May 20, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 26, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ a b "Libianca – People". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 4". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Libianca | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 24, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 27, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
- ^ "British certifications – Libianca". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 23, 2023. Type Libianca in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Libianca)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ "Canadian certifications – Libianca". Music Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ "Dutch certifications – Libianca" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved December 8, 2023. Enter Libianca in the "Artiest of titel" box.
- ^ "American certifications – Libianca". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Libianca – People". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
- ^ "French certifications – Libianca" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ "JAH DROPS THIS MONTH 🤪🤪🤪🤪I've been itching to drop 😂I'm trying out new things with the song while waiting😁". Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Instagram.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Hansen, Gabriel Meyers (September 15, 2023). "Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2023: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023". TheCable Lifestyle. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
- ^ MTV. "Vote Now – Nominees for 2023 MTV Video Music Awards". www.mtv.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2023.