Théodora (singer)

Théodora
Théodora performing in Paris, December 2024
Background information
Also known asThéodora
Born
Lili Théodora Mbangayo Mujinga

2003 (age 21–22)
Switzerland
GenresPop, bouyon, rap, R&B
Years active2018–present

Lili Théodora Mbangayo Mujinga (born 2003), known professionally as Théodora and also as Boss Lady, is a French-Congolese singer. She began releasing music in 2018 and achieved her breakthrough with the 2024 single "Kongolese sous BBL," which went viral on TikTok and was certified diamond in France the following year. She has released several extended plays and the mixtapes Bad Boy Lovestory (2024) and its deluxe version Mega BBL (2025), the latter certified platinum.

In 2025, Théodora received the Flammes award for Best Female Revelation, appeared at major festivals and events including Les Vieilles Charrues, Cabaret Vert, and Fête de l'Humanité, and was described by Le Monde as the "pop phenomenon of the summer." That August, Billboard France ranked her the second most-streamed female francophone artist in France.

Early life and education

Théodora was born in Switzerland[1] in 2003,[2] to Congolese parents who had left Kinshasa during the rule of Mobutu Sese Seko. The family lived in several countries, including Greece and Switzerland, before settling in Brittany, France.[1]

In 2018, at the age of 16, she released her first song, "La thune." She was preparing to enter the École normale supérieure preparatory class in Vannes, when she turned to music. During this period, she was a member of the Youth Regional Council of Brittany and later served as president of its cultural commission. Together with her brother, Jeez Suave, she decided to pursue a career in music full-time, a choice her parents agreed to support on the condition that she succeed.[3]

Career

Théodora's earliest release on Spotify, a trap-pop project titled Neptune, appeared in 2021.[4] She later gained wider recognition with the single "Le Paradis se trouve dans le 9.3," whose video she financed with savings from a job at McDonald's.[1]

In 2023, Théodora released two extended plays: Lili Aux Paradis Artificiels, a six-track project that included "Le Paradis se trouve dans le 93," and Tome 2.[4][5]

Théodora's single "Kongolese sous BBL," released on 27 September 2024,[6] went viral on TikTok and became her breakthrough track. The Fader described the song as having "palpable energy" and "hilarious" songwriting.[4] The single was certified diamond by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique on 3 July 2025, nine months after its release.[6]

In November 2024, Théodora issued her first mixtape, Bad Boy Lovestory,[7] described by The Fader as a "sugary fizz of dance, electronic, dancehall, and more."[4] The mixtape was followed by a deluxe version, Mega BBL, released in May 2025[7] and featuring collaborations with Chilly Gonzales, Juliette Armanet, Jul and Luidji.[3] In August 2025, Mega BBL was certified platinum in France, representing over 100,000 units sold.[8]

On 13 May, at the 2025 edition of Les Flammes, an awards ceremony dedicated to French rap and R&B, Théodora performed a medley of her songs "Fashion Designa" and "Do U Wanna".[7] She received the award for "Best Female Revelation," notably for "Kongolese sous BBL".[2]

In June 2025, Théodora sold out three consecutive concerts at Zénith Paris,[7] and her album Mega BBL was certified gold.[3] Throughout the summer, she performed at major French festivals including Yardland, Les Vieilles Charrues, and Cabaret Vert. In August, Le Monde described her as the "pop phenomenon of the summer" and noted that with the success of her inclusive songs, she had become "the new boss of pop in France."[9] That month, Billboard France reported that Théodora was the second most-streamed female francophone artist of the year in France, behind Aya Nakamura.[10]

On 12 September 2025, Théodora performed on the Angela Davis stage at the Fête de l'Humanité in La Courneuve. The performance, attended by one of the festival's largest crowds, was noted for its political themes and was described as the most significant concert of her 2025 tour by her entourage.[11] Later that month, she and her album Bad Boy Lovestory received the 18–20 prize, organized by the Prix Joséphine des artistes in collaboration with Télérama, Crédit Mutuel, and National Center of Music. The award is decided by a jury of thirteen young music enthusiasts.[12]

In November 2025, Théodora was named GQ France's Woman of the Year.[13]

Style and influences

Théodora's style has been described as a mix of goth, rap, and R&B influences.[7] Her brother, Jeez Suave, serves as her main producer. Together they have incorporated elements of drum and bass, Creole folk music, Caribbean genres such as bouyon, and influences from her childhood spent in Greece, the Republic of the Congo, and Réunion. In an interview with Vogue France, she credited her father, a music enthusiast, with introducing her to local styles during their travels. She has also cited The Weeknd and Rihanna as influences.[4]

Discography

Albums and EPs

  • Neptune (2021)
  • Lili Aux Paradis Artificiels (2023)
  • Tome 2 (2023)

Mixtapes

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
FRA
[14] 		BEL
(WA)
[15] 		SWI
Bad Boy Lovestory
  • Released: 1 November 2024
  • Labels: Boss Lady, Maison Neptune X NBFD
 3 14 —
Mega BBL (deluxe) 4 15 21

Singles

  • "La Thune" (2018)
  • "Le Paradis se trouve dans le 93" (2022)
  • "Kongolese sous BBL" (2024)
  • "Melodrama" (2025)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Theodora : « Défendre des grandes causes, bien sûr que c'est stylé ! » - L'Humanité". L'Humanité (in French). 2025-08-21. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  2. ^ a b "Théodora, fausse ingénue et vrai talent". franceinfo (in French). 2025-07-15. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  3. ^ a b c "Premier single à 16 ans, élève brillante, jeunesse à l'étranger… Qui est Theodora, star du R'n'B ?". Ouest-France.fr (in French). 2025-07-17. Archived from the original on 2025-07-21. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  4. ^ a b c d e "I'm obsessed with Theodora, France's coolest young pop star right now". The FADER. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  5. ^ Mang, Lolita (2025-01-27). "Qui est Theodora, la chanteuse qui bouscule les codes de la pop française ?". Vogue France (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  6. ^ a b "Les certifications - KONGOLESE SOUS BBL". SNEP (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  7. ^ a b c d e Miansoni, Sarah (June 23, 2025). "Theodora: Why you should listen to France's new pop sensation". Euronews. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  8. ^ "THÉODORA certifiée disque de platine avec « MEGA BBL » : un succès fulgurant". Hip Hop Corner. 2025-08-18. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  9. ^ Binet, Stéphanie (2025-08-16). "Theodora, le phénomène pop de l'été". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  10. ^ Thouvenin, Zoé (2025-08-07). "Theodora, 2ème artiste féminine francophone la plus streamée en France en 2025". Billboard France (in French). Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  11. ^ "À la Fête de l'Humanité, Théodora électrise le public avec un concert pétillant et engagé". L'Humanité (in French). 2025-09-13. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  12. ^ "Oklou et Theodora, reines de l'hyperpop et de l'afropop, ont reçu le prix Joséphine 2025". www.telerama.fr (in French). 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  13. ^ Majdoub, Rachid (2025-11-18). "Theodora est Femme de l'année GQ 2025". GQ France (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  14. ^ "Discographie Theodora". Les Charts. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
  15. ^ "Theodora – Bad Boy Lovestory" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Les certifications". snepmusique.com. Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
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