Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam—better known simply as Akon—is a Senegalese‑American singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist born on April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri, and raised partly in Senegal until age seven before his family returned to New Jersey. He began performing as a teenager while attending Clark Atlanta University before dropping out to pursue music, ultimately earning a record deal in 2003

Akon is more than a chart-topping artist—he’s a visionary whose reach spans music, business, and humanitarian work. His solar-energy efforts and blockchain ambitions demonstrate a drive to use influence for global impact. But his most audacious plan, Akon City, remains an unfolding story. Whether it evolves into a groundbreaking success or a cautionary tale, it underscores Akon’s ambition to reshape Africa’s future.

~AI