In a surprising development, singer-songwriter Akon’s wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce, just days before what would have been their 29th wedding anniversary on September 15.
According to court documents obtained by Vivid Voice News on Friday, Tomeka, who says she married the 52-year-old artist in 1996, cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the filing. She is also reportedly requesting spousal support and seeks to prevent the court from awarding any spousal support to Akon.
Born Aliaune Thiam, Akon first rose to prominence with his hit singles “Lonely” and “Locked Up” from his 2004 debut album, “Trouble.” A five-time Grammy nominee, Akon has largely kept his personal life private over the years. However, in an interview in December 2022, he claimed to be a father to nine children, a topic that came up while discussing Nick Cannon and his 11 children.
During an appearance on “The Zeze Millz Show,” Akon defended the practice of having multiple children, stating, “That’s how life is supposed to be. Why not? He’s rich. He’s responsible. He takes care of every one of those children…And the baby mothers are with it. And they hurt for nothing. And they live comfortably.” He went on to add, “He’s there for every one of them. He’s there for every single one of those kids. I got nine and I’m there for every one of mine.”
More recently, the Senegalese-American musician has shifted his focus to business and development.
In 2020, he unveiled plans for Akon City, a $6 billion “futuristic” city project in his native Senegal, which he once described by saying, “I want the buildings to look like real African sculptures that they make in the villages.”
However, after seven years of delays, the plan was reportedly scrapped this summer, with Africa Facts Zone reporting that Akon is now working on a “more realistic project.”
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In an interview with the Associated Press in April 2024, Akon also shared his thoughts on the future of the music industry and artificial intelligence.
“What I’ve learned about the music is that it is going to gradually continue to expand, and grow, and change the perspective of how people think and how they move,” the singer said.
He further commented on the difficulties facing the industry today, noting, “Today, things are more difficult…Not only just for the artist, but also for the fan as well, because it’s more energy that you have to actually invest to find something that you really love and relate to.”
