Global music star Akon is facing a personal setback as his wife, Tomeka “Amirror” Thiam, has filed for divorce just days before what would have been their 29th wedding anniversary.
According to New York Times, court documents obtained on Friday, Thiam cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for ending the marriage. The couple, who wed in 1996, were set to mark their anniversary on September 15.
Thiam is requesting joint legal custody of their 17-year-old child, while also seeking sole physical custody, the filing shows. She has additionally asked for spousal support and requested that the court prevent any possibility of Akon being awarded support.
The “Lonely” hitmaker, born Aliaune Thiam, has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
Akon, 52, rose to fame in the early 2000s with chart-topping singles such as “Locked Up” and “Don’t Matter.”
Over the years, he has earned five Grammy nominations and expanded his ventures into philanthropy and business, most notably announcing the ambitious $6 billion “Akon City” project in Senegal.
Although known for keeping his family life private, Akon revealed in a 2022 interview that he is a father of nine.
“I got nine and I’m there for every one of mine,” he said at the time, defending his large family structure.
More recently, the singer shifted his focus toward technology and the future of music, saying artificial intelligence will enhance rather than harm the industry.
“I think AI is going to actually make the experience better, believe it or not,” he told the Associated Press last year.
