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She is the last video I watched and searched online.

From the depths of despair, Libianca created a song that changed her life.

People (Check On Me), a tender cry for help that captured her at a crushing low point, has been streamed more than 150 million times since December.

It’s been number one for eight weeks on the UK’s Afrobeats chart. This Friday, it’s poised to enter the official Top 10 – a first for an artist from Cameroon. [Update: People (Check On Me) rose to number eight on 10 March, 2023].

“My whole life changed in a matter of hours,” says the singer. “I woke up in the morning and things had just flipped over.”

If you’ve heard People, you’ll know it from the hook alone.

“I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the last five days… Did you check on me?” sings the 22-year-old, her voice melancholy and mellifluous over a simple music box accompaniment.

Libianca: The true story behind the star’s ‘more alcohol’ song, People

9 March 2023 by Mark Savage BBC Music Correspondent

Lyrics

Oh-oh, mm, mm
From Bamenda, it’s Libianca
Oh-oh (a-yo, Mage, you made a bang)

I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days
Did you check on me?
Now, did you look for me?
I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don’t smoke banga
Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)
Now, did you notice me?

Nobody wey know the paranoia, oh
‘Cause I put a smile on my face, a facade you can never face (hoo)
And if you don’t know me well, well, oh
You won’t see how buried I am inside my grave, inside my grave

‘Cause you see people, people, people, people
Who don’t really know you, they don’t really know you
‘Cause you see people, people, people
They don’t really know you, they don’t really know

I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days
Did you check on me?
Now, did you look for me?
I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don’t smoke banga
Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)
Now, did you notice me?

Oh, Holy Father, oh, Holy Father, I dey try fo’ hold my head
I say make You no leave me diko
Oh, Holy Father, yeah-yeah, oh, make You try for understand
Yahoo girl, no dey for here (oh, yeah)

‘Cause you see people (bang), people, people, people
Who don’t really know you (they don’t really know)
They don’t really know you (know-oh)
‘Cause you see people (bang), people, people
They don’t really know you (mhm), they don’t really know

I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days (yeah, yeah)
Did you check on me?
Now, did you look for me?
I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don’t smoke banga (oh-ah)
Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)
Now, did you notice me?

I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days (mm-hmm)
Did you check on me?
Now, did you look for me? (Oh)
I walked in the room, eyes are red (and I don’t)
And I don’t smoke banga (and I don’t)
Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)
Now, did you notice me?

I’ve been drinking more alcohol for the past five days
Did you check on me?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Libianca Fonji / Orhue Odia

People lyrics © Promised Land Music Ltd, Jae5 Limited