Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Akon has opened up about his polygamous family life.
Revealing his multiple wives work together within a strict relationship structure that places his first wife at the centre of the household, the singer, 53, whose hits including Lonely, Smack That and Beautiful made him one of the defining R and B stars of the 2000s, discussed his private life during an appearance on the We Need To Talk podcast.
Akon, who has previously spoken about believing in polygamy and confirmed in earlier interviews that he has nine children, said he remains the “only man” in his relationships and would not disclose exactly how many wives he has.
The comments come months after reports emerged Tomeka Thiam, believed to be Akon’s first wife, filed for divorce in September 2025 after nearly 29 years of marriage.
Asked how many wives he currently has, Akon said: “I’ll just leave that to your imagination.”
The Senegalese-American musician explained his wives all understood there was a hierarchy within the family dynamic and said his first wife must be respected above everyone else.
He added: “That one is the reason you even got one, two or three. She’s the queen.
“Nobody violates wife No. 1. The moment they violate, (they’re) out the door.”
Akon said he believed the position of the “first wife” came with sacrifices as additional partners joined the family over time.
He said: “With new people (joining) your family, there’s going to be new attitudes, new mindsets, new behaviors.
“And the (first wife has) to deal with that.”
The musician, who rose to international fame with chart-topping singles including Don’t Matter and collaborations with artists such as Eminem, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg, has remained a recognisable figure in music and entertainment beyond his recording career.
In recent years, Akon has also generated headlines through business ventures including plans for a futuristic “Akon City” development project in Senegal, while continuing to tour internationally and revisit his early catalogue during nostalgia-driven live performances.
During the podcast appearance, Akon insisted he believed there were benefits for women within a polygamous structure, arguing the burden of responsibility ultimately rested with the man.
He said: “Oftentimes when the family is united in that way, the benefit is more for the woman than it is for the man, because the man actually has to take care of all of them.
“He has to treat them all equally, and their responsibility bears on him as well.”
Akon also said communication was the key reason the arrangement worked within his family.
He said: “You got to be mature enough to know if this is the situation that I’m going to park in, I have to communicate.
“This I like, this I don’t like. This I’m for, this I’m not for, and this is what I’m willing to deal with, this is what I’m not willing to deal with.
“And once y’all lay down those rules, just abide by them. It’s literally that simple.”
Akon and Tomeka married in 1996.
According to reports, Tomeka filed for divorce on 11 September last year, four days before what would have been the couple’s 29th wedding anniversary.
In 2023, musician Amirror publicly alleged she was one of Akon’s four wives, while Akon previously discussed his views on polygamy during an appearance on The Zeze Millz Show in 2022.
