Libianca Kenzonkinboum Fonji was born on July 23, 2000 in
Minneapolis,
Minnesota. In an interview with
BBC News Pidgin, Libianca recalled that when she was four years old, her family experienced issues with immigration. In her upbringing in Bamenda, Libianca sung in gospel choirs and attended a
boarding school, where she learned how to play the guitar.
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. She made her way to the top 20 before being eliminated. Her covers of "
Everything I Wanted" and "
Woman" on the show were later released as singles via West Side Creative Agency. Libianca signed to 5K Records and
Sony in 2022. 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. Libianca performed as an opening at
Alicia Keys' 2023
Keys to the Summer Tour. 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. == Artistry ==