Talk:Akon

Gender equality claims

Akon shocked fans with his wildly outdated views about gender roles in a relationship between a man and woman during a January 2022 appearance on the The Joe Budden Podcast.

During the interview, Akon bizarrely claimed men are able to make babies without women, because he claims all you need is sperm and an incubator in order to create life, explaining: 'We're gods, we are the ones that create life.'

Weighing in on women in Africa, Akon said: 'The women [there] treat you like a man, like a king. They aren't competing with you or fighting for equality because they understand that men and women could never be equal. They understand their roles.The roles there and very defined and very clean, here even if you say the word role to a woman. If I say, if you play your role and you play mine - they say, what the f**k you mean play my role? what role?Everybody has a role that is infrastructure to life and if her woman doesn't understand her position that she plays in life, everybody is confused.'

He continued: 'How can a man and women play the exact same role, where's the balance? In Africa it's very clear, the woman plays the role of the woman.'

Akon went on to insist that the women are specially made to endure the pain caused by men and stay loyal to them, something that comes 'naturally', he insisted. He also said: 'God installed love, emotions and compassion in a woman because as a motherly figure, those things have to be instilled. This is why women catch feelings so quick and why they can endure so much pain, because that loyalty comes naturally.As a woman, her role is to support the man. The men are the kings and the divine of this universe, a woman can never to compare to the man. They have to understand that here in America.' Akon continued by explaining his views on procreation, insisting that men are able to have babies without the assistance of a woman.

He said: 'Women don't create life, they support the creation of life. We're gods, we are the ones that create life.Let me tell you the science of it. A man right now can create life without a woman, but a woman cannot create life without a man.If I wanted to do it right now, I would shoot my sperm and put it in an incubator and give it nine month, even maybe less with today's science, and a baby will be born.A woman can't do that. So men we are the creators of life in actuality.'

Explaining what he thought the problem is, Akon said that women have 'lost their power' and women feel the need to pick up their 'roles'. He said: 'Men have lost the idea of the power they actually possess and passed it to the women. Here in America the men are afraid of their power' Silvinaluna1199 (talk) 15:55, 25 January 2023 (UTC)

Yes. This is also circulating again now, in 2025. Which is how I found this page. I am surprised not to see this included, perhaps under a new section for controversial views. A quick online search on his views on women also led to a recent podcast where he was in favour of a black female president for his nation. Though his stated reasoning for that was expressed in terms of gender stereotypes. Mention of his gender views does seem worthy of inclusion, as the unusual belief stated in original video keeps reprising. Koilectiv (talk) 00:37, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 6 April 2024

His main occupation is a singer. Also dancehall and reggae should be mentioned in the infobox. Singer should be listed first, second rapper, third songwriter the rest of his occupations are fine. 71.246.18.88 (talk) 13:28, 6 April 2024 (UTC)

Akon
Occupations	Singer rapper songwriter record producer businessman philanthropist
Musical career
Genres	R&B hip hop pop dance-pop reggae dancehall

Main occupations are listed. Rapper is second.

References

Could someone add that he performed in Russian Federation on evening of August 8 2025, in city of Sochi during a Ukrainian drone attack - and the performance was not delayed notwithstanding the war around him... as stated in https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/unknown-drones-nearly-disrupt-american-rapper-1754683637.html

— Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.129.81.134 (talk) 02:57, 14 August 2025 (UTC)

The name listed as his "real name" is not correct.

Akon did an interview pretending to give his real name to a radio personality. He was just tricking the audience. His real name is Aliou Badara Thiam, which is proven by these two articles: https://www.panafricancouncil.org/akon-welcomed-to-the-gambia-by-pac-ambassador-demba-hydara-for-presidential-visit/ https://gambiana.com/akon-talks-investment-for-gambia-with-president-barrow/ 37.231.35.36 (talk) 15:49, 22 January 2025 (UTC)

@37.231.35.36 I can't believe that people have been arguing about this for years now. 2601:18F:803:BCE0:C952:B8A8:6985:269A (talk) 21:03, 15 August 2025 (UTC)

To clarify, multiple native Wolof speakers have, over the past several years, attempted to explain to Wikipedia's largely non-African, non-Wolof-speaking editors that this is a joke name and Akon was trolling westerners by giving that as his name. YEARS. This is one of the most successful Wikipedia trolls ever. The fact that we have two African news sources reporting a different name should be enough to get it fixed, but the first name is different from what is usually given (Aliaune, which the people who pointed out the hoax agree is probably his name). 2601:18F:803:BCE0:C952:B8A8:6985:269A (talk) 21:12, 15 August 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 3 July 2025

Change: Akon is a polygamist. In 2007, Akon revealed he has six children with three women in an interview with Blender,[84] stating he has great relationships with all of them. He says he wishes to keep his family protected from the public eye.[85] As of December 2022, he has 9 children and four wives.[2][86]

To:Akon is a polygamist. In 2007, Akon revealed he has six children with three women in an interview with Blender,[84] stating he has great relationships with all of them. He says he wishes to keep his family protected from the public eye.[85] As of December 2022, he has four different households with 4 different women and has 9 children. [2][86] Bryantplay (talk) 16:51, 3 July 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Dahawk04 (talk) 17:11, 3 July 2025 (UTC)

Nationality is not correct

Akon was born in America he cannot be Senegalese-American — he is American-Senegalese or American-African.

If you were born in Africa and you emigrate to America you are African-American.

If you have African / Negroid features but were born in America then you are an American of African decent.

If you were born in America and you immigrated to Africa to gain African citizenship you are an American- African or in Akon's case American-Senegalese.

That is if this website is concerned with accuracy. Michaelmulela (talk) 06:09, 12 August 2025 (UTC)

That is not what African American means.

I do not think the convention (of the person's country of birth being stated first) exists; please provide a source for it if you can.

Also, please avoid using outdated terms such as 'Negroid'. Thank you. Audrey Woolf (talk) 23:17, 12 August 2025 (UTC)

I did not suggest the correction to be told what to do or and is outdated and what isn't.

Who do you think you are? The world's authority on what is and what isn't?

At least you have said you don't 'think' the convention exists.

Americas racism has forced people, minorities in particular to desire to identify with their ancestry despite being American citizens by BIRTH.

However the double standard is glaring where majority Caucasians do not attach their ancestry to the describe their national identity or citizenship. They are just Americans. As is everyone BORN in America.

As such, Americans with African ancestry i.e. NEGROID features are Americans —and NOT African-Americans.

They were not BORN in Africa.

That is the convention I'm applying.

Spare me your wokism. Yes it's word. Or will be. 197.237.177.67 (talk) 11:40, 13 August 2025 (UTC)

Americans with African ancestry can be described as both Americans and as African Americans. Similarly, for example, Americans with Polish ancestry can be described as both Americans and Polish Americans.

The convention you apply, e.g. that only a person who was born in Poland and then emigrated to the US can be called Polish American, is not found in Wikipedia's standards or in any sources you have provided or that I can find. If you can provide any credible source other than your own opinion, you can challenge that this convention should be applied by Wikipedia, but there are many sources already in play that fundamentally disagree with you. Audrey Woolf (talk) 22:03, 18 August 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 14 November 2025

Akon had stated spending 1999-2002 in prison however he really has never spent more than 24 hours in custody

~2025-33447-91 (talk) 02:54, 14 November 2025 (UTC) edited 15:42, 14 November 2025 (UTC) by Slomo666 (talk)

 Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. NotJamestack (talk) 03:04, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

Hey I moved the line that was here behind the signature to fix the interruption. Slomo666 (talk) 15:42, 14 November 2025 (UTC)

Akon's Early Life is Wrong (He is from St. Louis, MO)

Akon was orginally born in St. Louis, Missouri, before being immediately sent to Senegal to live with his mother. At age seven Akon moved back to St. Louis, not New Jersey. Akon actually spent the vast majority of his childhood in St. Louis, all the way up until mid-way through High School where he moved to New Jersey for only a few years with his brother. Akon lived in East St. Louis, Illinois due to his Father's association with Katherine Dunham, but attended Univeristy City High School, going on record saying he went to the same high school as Nelly and the St. Lunatics, before moving to New Jersey midway through high school. In fact, later on in his career, as St. Louis began to be a top hip hop city of the early 2000s, Akon leaned into his St. Louis idenitity, doing numerous songs with Nelly. I have included numerous videos of Akon directly talking about his childhood up to mid-high school in St. Louis.

This link is Akon talking about going to University City High School in St. Louis, and prior to the start of the clip, Akon even says the only thing right about his wikipedia page regarding his upbringing is where he was born (St. Louis) : https://www.instagram.com/reel/B_NZbwHJPma/

This link is Akon revealing that Nelly and himself were at Middle School at the same time, using their ages we can mathmatically assume Akon moved out of St. Louis roughly around 10th or 11th grade, meaning Akon was in St. Louis for 9 or 10 years, aswell as being born there. Akon even refers to St. Louis as where he grew up, and where he came from in this video: https://www.tiktok.com/@iheartradioca/video/7248763909920836869

This link is Akon talking to DJ Vlad about his fathers ties to Katherine Dunham and what brought his family to St. Louis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4DwXtR0eA4 Reflexx2007 (talk) 06:36, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 10 December 2025

All these changes take place in the Early life segment. Change ", which he described as his "hometown". to ", which he describes as having deep connections to."

Change, "At age seven, he and his family relocated to Union City, New Jersey,[16][17] splitting his time between the United States and Senegal until settling in Newark.[15] Growing up in New Jersey, Akon had difficulties getting along with other children.[18] When he and his younger brother, Bu Thiam, reached high school, his parents left them on their own in Jersey City and moved the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia.[19] Akon attended William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City.[20]" to "At age seven, he and his family relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, meeting his Father, who had already been living there, working under Katherine Dunham in East St. Louis, Illinois. Akon split his time between East St. Louis and University City, Missouri, where he attended Brittany Woods Middle School, alongside fellow artist Nelly, with whom he would later work extensively. Akon started at University City High School in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to New Jersey and attending William L. Dickinson High School midway through high school. In his late teens, his family left him and his younger brother, Bu Thiam, on their own in Jersey City and moved the rest of the family to Atlanta, Georgia."

Sources & Information: Akon was originally born in St. Louis, Missouri, before being immediately sent to Senegal to live with his mother. At age seven, Akon moved back to St. Louis, not New Jersey. Akon actually spent the vast majority of his childhood in St. Louis, all the way up until mid-way through High School, where he moved to New Jersey for only a few years with his brother. Akon lived in East St. Louis, Illinois, due to his Father's association with Katherine Dunham, but attended University City High School, going on record saying he went to the same high school as Nelly and the St. Lunatics, before moving to New Jersey midway through high school. In fact, later on in his career, as St. Louis began to be a top hip hop city of the early 2000s, Akon leaned into his St. Louis identity, doing numerous songs with Nelly. I have included numerous videos of Akon directly talking about his childhood up to mid-high school in St. Louis.

This link is Akon talking about going to University City High School in St. Louis, and before the start of the clip, Akon even says the only thing right about his Wikipedia page regarding his upbringing is where he was born (St. Louis): https://www.instagram.com/reel/B_NZbwHJPma/

This link is Akon revealing that Nelly and he were in Middle School at the same time. Using their ages, we can mathematically assume Akon moved out of St. Louis roughly around 10th or 11th grade, meaning Akon was in St. Louis for 9 or 10 years, as well as being born there. Akon even refers to St. Louis as where he grew up, and where he came from in this video: https://www.tiktok.com/@iheartradioca/video/7248763909920836869

This link is Akon talking to DJ Vlad about his father's ties to Katherine Dunham and what brought his family to St. Louis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4DwXtR0eA4 Reflexx2007 (talk) 06:51, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

The first source is an insta video, that clip says the important part but to cite it here is the full video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNsMHAMPMLs on youtube. A Sep 10, 2018 interview on Drink Champs | Revolt.

The tiktok of Akon shouting out his hometown, St. Louis, and Nelly took place at this concert: Nelly and Akon performed in Toronto on June 24, 2023, as part of the inaugural "Hot in Herre" festival at Downsview Park. Let me know if you need more sources, thank you! Reflexx2007 (talk) 07:18, 10 December 2025 (UTC)

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want made. Note: social media posts do not count as reliable sources. FMRadio :3_{(chat | edits)} 21:04, 23 December 2025 (UTC)

Tronix (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT) scam

Charged by SEC in crypto scam (companies: Tron Foundation Limited, BitTorrent Foundation Ltd., and Rainberry Inc. (formerly BitTorrent)) for promoting Tronix (TRX) and BitTorrent (BTT).~2026-36421-83 (talk) 21:44, 24 June 2026 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 27 June 2026

In 2025, filming began on the official documentary Akon: From Africa to the World!, directed and produced by David Serero. The documentary explores Akon's African roots, musical beginnings, and rise to international success. Filmed in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Paris, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Senegal, it features interviews with prominent figures including Rick Ross, Lil Zane, Steve Rifkind, David Guetta, Wyclef Jean, Sylvia Rhone, and Ne-Yo, among others. ~2026-37109-47 (talk) 18:59, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

 Not done. It's not clear what changes you want to make. –Deacon Vorbis (carbon • videos) 21:09, 27 June 2026 (UTC)

References