Libianca
Born
Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji

2001 (age 22–23)
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Citizenship
  • Cameroon
  • United States
Musical career
OriginBamenda, Cameroon
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • audio engineer
Years active2019–present
Labels
  • West Side Creative
  • 5K
  • RCA

Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji (born 2000 or 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.

Early life

Fonji was born in 2001 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[2][3] In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, Fonji 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, Fonji sung in gospel choirs and attended a boarding school, where she learned how to play the guitar.[5]

Career

2021–present: The Voice and "People"

In 2021, Fonji 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.

Fonji signed to 5K Records and Sony in 2022.[9] In December of that year, Fonji 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]

Fonji performed as an opening at Alicia Keys' 2023 Keys to the Summer Tour.[11]

Artistry

Fonji takes influence from genres prevalent in her upbringing, 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]

Discography

Extended plays

List of EPs, with selected details
Title Details
Walk Away
  • Released: December 8, 2023
  • Format: Digital
  • Label: 5K Records, Sony

Singles

List of singles and selected peak chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[13]		 CAN
[14]		 FRA
[15]		 NLD
[16]		 NZ
[17]		 SWE
[18]		 SWI
[16]		 UK
[19]		 US
[20]		 WW
[21]
"Level" 2019 ——————————
"My Place" 2020 ——————————
"Revenge" ——————————
"Thank You" 2021 ——————————
"Special Lovin'" ——————————
"People" 2022 2239191216928020
"Jah"[30] 2023 ——————————

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs and selected peak chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[31]
"Mistaken"
(with Oxlade and Chlöe)		 2024 16 Walk Away

Awards

Africa Entertainment Awards USA

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Herself Best Francophone Female Artist/Group Pending [32]
Best Female Artist Pending
"People" Song of the Year Pending

The Future Awards Africa

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Herself Prize for Music Pending [33]

MTV Video Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 People Best Afrobeats Nominated [34]

References

  1. ↑ Conteh, Mankaprr (January 20, 2023). "Libianca Is the Afro Soul Siren Who Can Do Everything". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ 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.
  3. 1 2 Edu, DJ (March 4, 2023). "Africa Live this week: 27 February-5 March 2023". BBC News. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ Buchan, Kit (July 29, 2023). "One to watch: Libianca". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Henderson, Cydney. "'The Voice': Blake Shelton 'heartbroken' after eliminating his own 'God's Country' singer". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Donnellan, Sara (October 7, 2021). "WATCH: 'The Voice' Contestant Picks Coach Based on a Sign from God". Heavy.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Tribune, Neal Justin Star. "Minnesota contestant Libianca eliminated from 'The Voice'". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Rising Star Libianca Shares Visuals To Hit 'People' – OkayAfrica". www.okayafrica.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ 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)
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ Aklilu, Rahel. "Libianca Takes The World!". Complex. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of May 20, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 26, 2023)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Libianca – People". dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  17. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 4". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Libianca | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100: Week of June 24, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Billboard Global 200: Week of May 27, 2023". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  22. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  23. ↑ "British certifications – Libianca". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 23, 2023. Type Libianca in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  24. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Libianca)". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Canadian certifications – Libianca". Music Canada. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  26. ↑ "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.
  27. ↑ "American certifications – Libianca". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  28. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Libianca – People". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  29. ↑ "French certifications – Libianca" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  30. ↑ "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.
  31. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  32. ↑ Hansen, Gabriel Meyers (September 15, 2023). "Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2023: All the nominees | Music In Africa". Music In Africa. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  33. ↑ "FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023". TheCable Lifestyle. September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  34. ↑ 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.
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