Impossible to escape it: for weeks, “Kongolese under BBL” has invaded TikTok with its catchy chorus and its Afro-Caribbean vibes. If this title makes Generation Z dance, it also carries a strong message. And for good reason, Schuyler, its creator, is not just a singer: she is a visionary. In this musical and visual explosion, she celebrates uninhibited femininity while playing clichés with well-placed irony.
But who is Schuyler?
Behind her colorful hair and her “kawaii bad girl” look, Theodora, 21, is a Franco-Congolese artist. Born in Switzerland and having grown up between Greece, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Reunion and the Paris region, she carries within her a great cultural diversity. “I am a product of diversity, while being French,” she emphasizes on France Inter.
Before devoting herself to music, Theodora dreamed of politics. “My grandfather was a political opponent. He even landed in prison for his beliefs. Me… I kind of wanted to change the world,” she confides to Numéro. After a stint in ENS prep, she decided to leave everything behind to follow her musical passion. But this dream was not without price. “When I arrived in France with my brother, it was a hard moment because it was a breakup with my parents. They wanted me to continue prep,” she explains to NRJ.
Despite everything, she perseveres, driven by a close relationship with her brother Jeez Suave, who produces her songs. “My brother is my best friend. Since we were little, we have been really, really close,” she adds.
Why is “Kongolese under BBL” such a hit?
Beyond its catchy rhythm, “Kongolese under BBL” is an anthem to hyperfemininity and empowerment. In this piece, Theodora celebrates a femininity that is disturbing, but which she fully claims. “I’m a boss lady. I’m a camera and red carpet girl. », she explains on France Inter.
The cover of the single perfectly illustrates her approach: it diverts an internet meme where a woman, while reading, loses her shape and covers herself, to instead celebrate beauty and intelligence as complementary. “I stopped prep school to be a boss lady, but maybe tomorrow I will have a book in my hands again,” she defends at the NRJ microphone.
The success of this title is also due to its fusion of genres: bouyon, amapiano, dancehall… Multiple influences which reflect his cosmopolitan career. “My goal is to refocus all the music that I have heard throughout my life, around my own project,” she explains to France Inter.
A promising album and booming media coverage
Released at the beginning of November, “Bad Boy Lovestory” is a mixtape rich in emotions and styles. Theodora explores the themes of love, identity and empowerment. “I fell madly in love with a bad boy, I needed to make a project out of it. But he’s a bad boy with others, he’s not bad with me,” she admits to NRJ.
The young singer is also on the rise on stage. She recently joined Shay on stage for her date at the legendary Forest National venue in Brussels, a performance that left its mark. And this is just the beginning: Theodora is now scheduled at prestigious festivals like We Love Green and Yard Land, where she promises to thrill the crowds with her boundless energy.
Schuyler measures how far she has come. “I’m happy to be able to make a living from music, but it’s been a hard road, and I understand that many give up before getting there,” she confides to France Inter. With millions of streams and a loyal audience, she has established herself as a major voice of her generation. “I’m going to be a superstar,” she bluntly states to NRJ. If “Kongolese under BBL” got the whole of TikTok dancing, there is no doubt that his performances on stage will captivate just as much.