Libianca

Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji, born on July 23, 2000, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a Cameroonian-American singer known mononymously as Libianca. Her early life included a relocation to Bamenda, Cameroon, at age four due to immigration issues, where she engaged with gospel choirs and learned guitar at a boarding school. Her musical influences stem from her trilingual upbringing in Pidgin, English, and French, incorporating R&B, Afrobeats, and soul into her distinctive sound. She also battled with the mood disorder cyclothymia.

Libianca’s career trajectory saw her transition from local open mic nights in Minneapolis to national television, competing in the 21st season of NBC’s ‘The Voice’ in 2021, where she reached the top 20 under coach Blake Shelton. Following her time on the show, she signed with 5K Records and Sony in 2022. That same year, she released her breakout single ‘People,’ which debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard Afrobeats chart and number 1 on the UK Afrobeats chart. In December 2023, she released her debut EP, ‘Walk Away,’ which featured collaborations such as ‘Mistaken’ with Chlöe and Oxlade. The EP’s tracks, including ‘Jah’ and ‘In A Way,’ also achieved chart success on platforms such as Afrobeats Billboard and Official Afrobeats Charts.

Her achievements include being the first Cameroonian artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and a Certified Platinum RIAA artist. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including a BET Award for Best New International Act and a Headies Award for Central African Artiste. Libianca has also toured with artists like Alicia Keys, performing on the ‘Keys to the Summer Tour’ in 2023. Her music, characterized by vulnerability and emotional themes, has garnered over 1 billion streams across all platforms and accumulated over 3 million Shazams.