Theodora

Born

2003-10-23

Birthplace

Lucerne, Switzerland

Biography

Lili Théodora Mbangayo Mujinga (born 23 October 2003), known mononymously as Theodora, is a Franco-Congolese singer and rapper. Her work is noted for its eclectic blend of bouyon, hyperpop, and hip-hop, and her accolades include a Flamme Award for Female Revelation and the Prix Joséphine. In 2025, Billboard named her the most-listened-to female francophone artist in France, and GQ France named her Woman of the Year. Born in Lucerne, Switzerland, and raised across Greece and the Congo before settling in Saint-Denis, France, Theodora began her musical career in 2018 in collaboration with her brother, producer Jeez Suave. After releasing early EPs such as Neptune (2021) and Lili aux paradis artificiels (2023), she had her breakthrough in 2024 with the viral single "Kongolese sous BBL." The track made history as the first bouyon single to be certified gold in France by a non-Antillean artist. She achieved wider recognition with her debut mixtape Bad Boy Lovestory (2024) and its 2025 re-edition, MEGA BBL, which was certified gold within weeks of its release. Theodora received critical acclaim for her 2025 collaboration with Disiz, "melodrama," which topped the SNEP and Ultratop charts for several weeks and earned a diamond certification. Her commercial success continued with hit singles like "Fashion Designa" and "Zou bisou," the latter featuring Jul. In 2026, she further established her status as a pop icon by selling out four consecutive nights at the Zénith de Paris—totaling 28,000 spectators—and receiving multiple nominations at the Victoires de la Musique, including Female Revelation and Album of the Year. Beyond her recording career, Theodora operates her own label, Boss Lady Records, and has expanded into television as a jury member for the fifth season of the Netflix series Nouvelle École (2026). She is also a prominent activist, utilizing her platform to advocate for feminism, anti-racism, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Her influence on French youth culture was further recognized in 2025 when she was included in the Dazed 100 list of global cultural innovators.