“You know, I don’t think there’s any one woman out there who can satisfy every single need a man has. It’s just not possible. And vice versa, you know? No man can fully meet every single need a woman has. It’s like we’re wired differently, you feel me? Women aren’t built to handle multiple partners like men are.”
That’s Akon, opening up about his unconventional marital situation. “So, what’s the deal with Akon and his multiple wives?” you might ask. Well, it’s been a hot topic in the celebrity gossip circles for some time now. People talk about his polygamous relationships, his baby mama drama, and all those accusations about him dodging child support. But here’s the real question: Did his wives sign up for this lifestyle willingly, or were they somehow tricked or pressured into it?
“Speaking of family, you’ve got quite a big one, right?” “Yeah, I’ve got nine kids – seven boys and two girls.” “And then there’s all those rumors about your many wives…” “Ah, yeah, those rumors. Honestly, I kinda like keeping people guessing. Keeps things interesting, you know?” “So, are you gonna set the record straight?” “Nah, I’ve been getting that question for like ten years now, and my answer’s still the same.”
“I’m fascinated by it, you know? The speculation is wild. We all know Akon’s got more than one partner, but trying to guess how many? It’s like a game – sometimes you might see him with nine, other times just seven, or maybe only four.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty interesting.”
“Surprising, but yeah, Akon’s upbringing really influenced his decision to embrace polygamy. Let me give you some background. He was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri, but then he spent his early years in Dakar, Senegal, until he was about seven. After that, he came back to the States.”
“Wait, so he was born in St. Louis but raised in Senegal?”
“Yeah, right after he was born. His dad made sure they were all born in the U.S. to avoid any immigration issues. So, they’d spend their early years in Senegal, then come back for school and spend summers back in Senegal.”
“During a recent interview on Vlad TV, Akon opened up about his family life. Turns out, his dad had five wives and a whopping total of 19 children.”
“Wait, wasn’t it four wives?”
“Nope, it was five. His dad was quite the character.”
“So, how many moms did he have growing up?”
“Five.”
“And how many siblings?”
“About 19 altogether.”
“Wow, that’s a huge family.”
“Yeah, and get this, Akon mentioned that his dad chose his mom when she was only 13! It was all part of their cultural traditions. His parents were basically arranged to marry, even though she was technically underage. His dad took her in, looked after her till she was 17, and then they got married. So, his dad was around 28, and his mom was still a teenager.”
Akon sought to defend his lifestyle, attributing it to his African heritage. “Polygamy was a part of my upbringing,” he explained. “My father, following tradition, chose my mother when she was young—around 13 years old. It was arranged by my grandfather and my mother’s father, who had a close relationship. My father, knowing my mother was his future wife, began protecting her early on.”
Growing up in this family dynamic, it’s no surprise that Akon embraced polygamy. He’s been linked to multiple women from various parts of the world, reportedly having children with each of them. Akon openly challenges the idea of monogamy, believing it goes against human nature. “It’s impossible for a man to be monogamous. It’s not natural,” he asserts.
Reports suggest Akon has been married to at least five women and continues to date others, advocating for multiple wives. However, due to his privacy preferences, the exact number remains uncertain. Among those known are Tamika, Thyme, Tricia, Anna, Rachel, Whitfield, and Rosina Goosey.
Akon first disclosed his polygamous lifestyle during an interview with Angie Martinez in 2006, stating, “I’m a polygamist. I can afford to have as many wives as I can afford.” His comments sparked controversy, leading him to address the backlash.
In a candid 2007 interview with Vibe magazine, Akon confessed that his previous statements regarding having multiple wives were nothing but a ploy for publicity. However, he later admitted that this was far from the truth. Opening up in a subsequent discussion with AllHipHop, he revealed the unexpected fallout from his public declaration of polygamy, noting how it began to affect people in his personal circle who had no connection to his lifestyle choices. According to reports, his record label intervened, forbidding him from delving into this facet of his life out of fear that it could overshadow his musical career and negatively impact album sales.
Akon expressed remorse over the situation, remarking, “It started to affect other people that had nothing to do with us because of that. The label said that they don’t want me to promote that aspect, and I can’t talk about that too much because it’s destroying other people’s families and other things. It reached another level to where it could have potentially been damaging for other people.” The situation took a more personal turn when his then-fiancée, Rachel Whitfield, decided to call off their engagement upon realizing she would be his fifth wife. Speaking candidly in an interview with The Voice, she acknowledged her awareness of Akon’s other marriages but had believed she would be his primary focus. However, upon learning of his fifth child with one of his wives, she experienced a wake-up call and chose to end the relationship before it progressed further.
Reflecting on her decision, she shared, “The reality check came for me when Akon told me he had his fifth child with one of his wives. For the first few months, I got completely freaked out because even though I knew he had otherwise, I never really thought about him being with him because his main attention was always on me or so I thought.” She acknowledged the complexity of Akon’s relationships, emphasizing that while he does not cohabit with his wives, the birth of his latest child forced her to confront the reality of sharing the man she loved with other partners.
Akon found himself tangled in another legal issue when a judge ruled he must pay five thousand dollars in child support. This followed his request to establish legal fatherhood for the child he shares with Rosina Nagusi. Court documents obtained by TMZ disclosed his plea to have a say in major decisions regarding the child, along with considerations for his significant income. He also sought inheritance rights for the child. Speaking exclusively to TMZ, a close source emphasized Akon’s continuous paternal role, stating, “Akon has been a father to those boys since day one, and this is a necessary step to secure his legal recognition as such.”
After this incident, Akon became more reserved regarding discussions about his polygamous marriage. However, in 2013, during an unplanned interview at LAX by TMZ, he expressed his views on polygamy versus monogamy at length. He suggested that embracing polygamy could potentially benefit marriages. Akon argued that men are inherently inclined towards multiple partners and that finding a single woman to fulfill all needs is unlikely. This perspective stirred controversy on social media, prompting Akon to retreat from the limelight once again.
In 2018, Akon reappeared on the Drink Champs podcast, where he admitted to having multiple wives without disclosing the exact number. He maintained transparency with his partners, informing them of his polygamous lifestyle and the likelihood of being involved with other women.
“Does Akon really embody the quintessential American Dream? How does he manage to navigate it all, sir?” “It’s not about pulling off a stunt. My approach is just fundamentally different. I believe in absolute honesty.” “Can you start from the beginning, just lay it out straight?” “Well, from a woman’s perspective, here’s the deal. There are two key things. Firstly, you keep it real with her, maintaining her respect because you’re not deceiving her. You tell her exactly how you feel and what she’s getting into. Secondly, now she can mentally prepare herself, deciding if she wants what you want in her life. You get it? She’s empowered to make that choice because you gave her the option. And even if things don’t pan out romantically, you can still be friends because honesty was there from the get-go. Speaking of which, just the other day at the club with my brother, drama was brewing.” Not long after this, rumors started swirling about Akon’s first wife, Tamika Thyme, potentially joining The Real Housewives of Atlanta to replace Porsha Williams. Tamika quickly shut down the speculation on Instagram, stating, “I swear I’m Akon’s legal wife. I’m a private person, and if there’s a new wife on the show, it’s definitely not me.” This strongly suggested that she was indeed Akon’s primary partner. Then, in 2019, news broke that Akon and another wife named Tricia Anna were slated to appear on Love and Hip Hop Hollywood. However, things took a sour turn when Tricia ended their relationship during filming, having found someone new.
The situation became quite messy, leading Acom to withdraw from the show and insist on the deletion of all scenes featuring him. According to a source close to the matter, “Akon has requested the removal of any footage with him in it. However, he’s still obligated to fulfill his contractual appearances. It’s unclear how this will unfold.” This development sheds light on the challenges within Akon’s polygamous family, contradicting the image of harmony he portrays. Many perceive him to be struggling to maintain unity within his large family. However, acknowledging these struggles goes against his public narrative promoting the advantages of polygamy. Some speculate that his wealth is a facade to hide familial discord, with one observer noting, “Providing material wealth without emotional presence still leaves scars.” Another critic suggests that Akon uses cultural norms to mask his unresolved personal issues, saying, “It seems like he’s using polygamy to shield his insecurities and trauma. Unfortunately, this pattern might continue through generations.” The public’s perception of Akon’s polygamous lifestyle is not entirely positive. Now, I’m interested to hear your thoughts on this situation. What do you think about Akon’s polygamy, and do you believe his upbringing has influenced his views on marriage? Share your thoughts in the comments below