Global music superstar Akon is facing a huge personal battle as his wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce after nearly three decades together.
Court papers filed on September 11, 2025, in Fulton County, Georgia, reveal Thiam is requesting the marriage be dissolved because of irreconcilable differences. The pair, who share one daughter, would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary next month.
Thiam sought joint legal custody in her petition but asked for primary physical custody of the daughter, with visitation for Akon. She also asked for spousal support, and asked the court to deny any such requests from the singer.
The filing comes as the 51-year-old artist continues to hold fast to his outspoken views on polygamy, which he has long identified with his African heritage. In an interview with The Zeze Mills Show in 2022, Akon referred to polygamy as natural in his culture, condemning Western approaches to marriage for “making rules without considering nature.”
The Senegalese-American celebrity, who has admitted to having nine children, has frequently owned up to finding it hard to balance family and his demanding career. Even as he underscores his position as the provider for the family, he has also pointed out that technology enables him to keep tabs on his children in spite of his constant absence.
Neither Akon nor Thiam has spoken publicly since the divorce filing.
