Music superstar Akon is reportedly facing a personal storm as his wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce after nearly three decades together.
According to court documents obtained by People, Thiam cited “irreconcilable differences” when she officially filed on Thursday.
The couple, who married on September 15, 1996, were just days away from celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary.
Custody and Support Details Come to Light
The legal filings show that Thiam is seeking joint legal custody and physical custody of their 17-year-old daughter.
She also requested spousal support for herself while asking the court to prevent Akon from claiming spousal support in return.
At this stage, the couple’s official date of separation remains “TBD.” Neither Akon nor his representatives have publicly commented on the filing.
Akon’s Polygamous Family Complicates Matters
Akon, whose real name is Alioune Badara Thiam, comes from Senegal, where polygamy is legally recognized.
Over the years, he has fathered nine children and has multiple spouses.
Among them is Amirah-Iman Thiam, who recently shared a loving photo with Akon shortly after the divorce news broke.
The post included a diamond ring emoji and was paired with the Gunna song “forever be mine.”
Amirah-Iman also releases music, with Akon promoting her debut album, #REFLXNS, as “the first lady of #konvictkulture.”
Cultural Context of Akon’s Marriages
During a 2022 appearance on The Zeze Mills Show, Akon explained that polygamy is “part of our culture,” adding that it felt natural to him.
“We didn’t go outside of our African culture when we got to the Western world.
See, the flaw that the Western world made is they created all these rules without putting nature into account,” he said.
Dreams of a High-Tech African Utopia Fall Through
In July, Akon announced he was abandoning plans to build a Wakanda-inspired city along a remote stretch of West African coastline.
The ambitious project aimed to create a high-tech, renewable-energy-powered utopia fueled by its own cryptocurrency.
However, the vision collapsed due to funding problems, stalled construction, and legal obstacles.
Senegal is now redirecting efforts toward tourism infrastructure in preparation for the 2026 Junior Olympic Games in Dakar.
From Musical Breakthrough to Recent Struggles
Akon rose to international fame in 2004 with his debut album, producing several top 10 hits, including the iconic “Locked Up.”
While his early career catapulted him to global superstardom, his more recent singles have struggled to match the commercial success of his early work.
With personal and professional challenges converging, Akon faces a pivotal moment both in his career and private life.