Main content

Theodora

Big Boss Lady Theodora is taking France by storm with her unique take on Afro-pop.

21 year old French-Congolese Theodora is a viral sensation. She shot to fame last year with her song Kongolese Sous BBL which has been viewed and streamed millions of times. She's also sold out shows in France and appeared at Paris Fashion Week with stars including South Africa's Tyla.

Theodora tells DJ Edu about her itinerant childhood: she has lived in Greece, Switzerland, the Reunion Islands, as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo and France where she now lives, and has gathered a wide range of musical influences along the way. Her grandfather served time in jail in DRC thanks to his opposition to the government, and Theodora has inherited his spirit, speaking out on racism, misogyny and the rise of the conservative right in France.

She views her music as political, in the way that it challenges stereotypical ideas about black music. It is also about being young, and free, and partying. Her second EP, dropped in May, is called Mega BBL, the BBL standing for Bad Boy Lovestory, but also Big Boss Lady and Brazilian Butt Lift!

Available now

27 minutes

On radio

Today 10:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Yesterday 01:32GMT
  • Yesterday 10:32GMT
  • Yesterday 17:32GMT
  • Yesterday 22:32GMT
  • Today 10:32GMT
  • Tomorrow 01:32GMT