How Theodora grew to become the artist that a whole era was ready for | EUROtoday

EIt is 21 years previous, a viral tube and a method of her personal. Théodora-of his actual identify Lili Théodora Mbangayo Mujinga-conquered the networks with “Kongolesus under Bbl”, irresistible cocktail of rap, pop and Bouyon Afro-Caribéen. She laughs at her “big breasts that [lui] often hurt the neck “, proclaims” yes my ass is big so there are daddies that have too much the fangs “, and performs with the clichés of the time. At the crossroads of Aya Nakamura and new icons from Tiktok, the younger Franco-Congolese singer has enjoyable with conventions and gained, with out filter, as one of the crucial singular voices on the French scene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpakkxmiyva

Since this primary viral success, Théodora has been occurring. On May 30, she unveiled the reissue of her first album, Mega BBLenriched with twelve new titles. And the forged says every little thing about its energy of attraction, able to federating very numerous audiences. Rather choose: Jul, Juliette Armanet, Luidji, Chilly Gonzales, Guy2bezbar … topped feminine revelation of the 12 months within the final flames, she established herself as one of the crucial surprising and adopted artists on the brand new French scene.

From Saint-Ouen, the place she lives, with stylish quarters of the sixteenth, her choruses resonate all over the place. To perceive this generational craze, we’ve given the ground to those that comply with it, take heed to it and establish themselves along with his phrases.

“She fills a void in France”

“We heard it everywhere on Tiktok, it is catchy music, which makes you want to dance,” says Yannick, scholar in engineering college. It is along with his track “Kongolesus under Bbl” that Théodora grew to become identified. Same discovery for Zoé, additionally a scholar: “I discovered her music on the networks and I really liked it, so I went to listen to her discography. »»

But beyond this first viral hit, it is the originality of its universe that seduces. “She fills a void in France. We lack artists who dare to get out of the boxes, ”analyzes Zoé.

Read too Damso, the rapper who took ten years to get out of darknessWhere different pop stars replay the identical formulation, Théodora mixes genres with uncommon freedom. “She has fun with the sounds, crosses club, rap, classic … It brings a real breath,” continues Zoé.

Same commentary in Thomas, a younger music fanatic: “If I like it, it is mainly because she is very versatile in her music. There are a lot of varieties in his album. »»

“She breaks the codes and brings together”

“She arrived on the French scene and she broke the codes,” says Rym, a web design student. An observation shared by Zoé: “She frees herself from existing frames. She keeps some elements of it, but she also reclaims many influences to do something personal. “Same impression at Thomas:” There is a lot of variety in his album. She draws everywhere: in the bouyon, pop, rap, and even rock. »»

Throughout the testimonies, it is the image of a free artist who emerges and who speaks to a youth in search of open models. “She embodies a different way of thinking, who resonates strong today. Many recognize themselves in his way of being, without filter, ”says Rym.

During the flames ceremony, her speech marked: she devoted her value “to all the marginally weird black women”. A strong gesture, immediately taken up on the networks. “This speech was really powerful. She dares to say what many dare, and it feels good, ”says Zoé.

Read too Camille Yembe, new Belgian pop star softened by StromaeLike Aya Nakamura, Théodora brings together listeners from all social and cultural backgrounds. Born in Switzerland, having grown up between Greece, Congo, Reunion, Bordeaux, Rennes and Seine-Saint-Denis, she now composes a work in her mixed, moving image, as a freed borders.

“A phenomenon born on-line, in-built actuality”

But behind this viral success, a course built far from the traditional circuits of industry. A trajectory of self made woman which appeals to a generation in search of autonomy, and stories of success. This is also what her fans come to get home.

“She is not an artist made from scratch. Her path, she traced it with determination and sincerity, ”underlines Yannick. No label at the start, no well -oiled marketing plan: only a family duo with their brother, Jeez Suave, both manager and producer. “She determined to get began, with out letting herself be slowed down by obstacles,” admires Zoé.

Because Théodora first experienced other ambitions. Former student of preparatory class at the École normale supérieure, she envisaged a time to “change the world by politics”. Before, as she recently confided in France Inter, “music didn’t [la] catches up ”.

“A model of emancipation and commitment”

For his followers, what strikes first, past the refrains that make you dance is freedom of speech. A method of claiming issues, assuming your fights, with out detour or pose. “His songs are wearing a real breath of emancipation and celebrate the female figure in all its forms,” ​​underlines Zoé. Thomas provides: “Her texts often play on humor, but she also knows how to be more sensitive, more authentic, which makes her very close to her audience. »»

Read too Miki, the musical phenomenon that unleashes the InternetThis freedom of tone does not stop at music. On social networks, Théodora is happy to speak on major social subjects: she claims her feminist convictions, supports causes that are close to her heart, and gradually builds a public figure that goes beyond the simple frame of pop. “She embodies a new way of thinking and being for a youth who wants to assert herself more. Many recognize themselves in his way of being, to express himself, ”analyzes Rym.

This commitment is not a marketing varnish. He is nourished by her family history: a granddaughter of an imprisoned political opponent, raised in the culture of activism, she herself engaged in politics before choosing music. An awareness that continues to irrigate his art, as evidenced by his public positions and his recent presence at a rally against the extreme right in Paris, alongside other committed artists.

“A singular and assumed aesthetic”

“Aesthetically, what Theodora does is trash, and it is labored,” describes Rym. Zoé, she speaks of a “artistic dysfunction”: “She dares every little thing, whether or not in her clips, her seems or her visuals. We really feel that there’s actual reflection behind, but additionally complete freedom. “Thomas abounds:” His visible universe is as various as his music. She doesn’t attempt to follow a clean or anticipated picture, she has enjoyable with the codes, and it reveals. »»

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfxMXQ9NXWY

This method contrasts with the dominant aesthetic requirements which just lately invaded social networks. Théodora stands towards the best of the clear woman – This minimalist fashion, very clean coiffure, superb silhouette and impeccable make-up which has established itself as a brand new commonplace of perfection on Tiktok and Instagram. Like figures like Charli XCX or Doechi, it claims a extra loopy, extra imperfect fashion the place the expression takes priority over management.

Read too What if, with “Lotus”, Little Simz had simply launched one of the best album of 2025? This visible audacity seduces her followers, who see in her an artist who doesn’t search to please in any respect prices, however to specific himself along with his contradictions and her singularity. “She does not wish to correspond to the codes of high society or the expected perfection models. She follows her own way, ”analyzes Zoé.

It can be this spontaneity that makes her accessible and endearing: “We feel that she has fun, that she does not take herself too seriously, and it makes you want to follow it,” concludes Rym.

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And on stage? “She sends everything, she makes you dance, she is laughing,” she provides. This Saturday, on the We Love Green pageant, she ought to nonetheless shake up the codes … and maybe some vertebrae.

Théodora, Mega BBL (Virgin). In live performance on the We Love Green pageant, Saturday June 7 on the Bois de Vincennes.