Global music star Akon is facing a personal setback as his wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce after nearly 29 years of marriage.
According to court filings in Fulton County, Georgia on September 11, 2025, Thiam is seeking to end the union on the grounds of irreconcilable differences.
The couple, who share one daughter, would have marked their 29th wedding anniversary next month.
In her petition, Thiam requested joint legal custody but asked for primary physical custody of their daughter, with visitation rights for Akon. She is also seeking spousal support while requesting the court deny any such claim from the singer.
The divorce comes as Akon, 51, continues to defend his support for polygamy, which he says is rooted in his African cultural heritage.
In a 2022 interview on The Zeze Mills Show, he described polygamy as natural:
“(Polygamy is) part of our culture. Absolutely. For me, it looks normal because it’s culture for us. We didn’t go outside of our African culture when we got to the Western world.”
Akon, who has acknowledged having nine children, has often spoken about balancing family obligations with his demanding career. While emphasizing financial stability, he admitted that his physical presence is sometimes limited:
“My job ain’t to be doing all that extra stuff and these holidays and recitals. While I’m taking care of my responsibility to make sure the family has a roof and food, if I have the time to do that and show love, yes, I will do that.”
He added that technology helps him remain present in his children’s lives:
“It’s impossible to be everywhere. Technology allows me to be there every day, FaceTime and other methods.”
As of now, neither Akon nor Thiam has publicly commented on the divorce filing.
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