Global music sensation Akon is currently navigating a significant personal challenge as his wife, Tomeka Thiam, has filed for divorce after almost three decades of marriage. The legal proceedings were initiated on September 11, 2025, in Fulton County, Georgia, where Thiam cited irreconcilable differences as the grounds for ending their union. The couple, who share one daughter, were just weeks away from celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary.

In her divorce petition, Tomeka Thiam has outlined specific requests regarding their daughter and financial arrangements. She is seeking joint legal custody of their daughter, while simultaneously asking the court to grant her primary physical custody, with Akon being allocated visitation rights. Furthermore, Thiam has requested spousal support for herself from the singer, and conversely, has asked the court to deny any potential request for spousal support from Akon.

This divorce filing comes at a time when Akon, aged 51, has been vocal in publicly defending his views on polygamy, a practice he frequently associates with his cultural heritage. During an appearance on The Zeze Mills Show in 2022, Akon explicitly stated his perspective: “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. See, the flaw that the Western world made is they created all these rules without putting nature into account.”

Akon, who has openly acknowledged being a father to nine children, has also often discussed the complexities of balancing his demanding music career with his family responsibilities. While he consistently emphasizes his commitment to providing financial stability for his children, he has also admitted that his physical presence is sometimes limited due to his extensive work schedule. He remarked, “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 over their head and food, if I have the time to do that and show love, yes, I will do that.”

Despite these limitations, Akon maintains that technology plays a crucial role in enabling him to stay connected with his children. He explained, “Me showing up for my children is me being there for them financially. I’m there if I’m around. But it’s impossible to be everywhere and every place. And technology allows me to be there every day, FaceTime and other methods.” As of now, neither Akon nor Tomeka Thiam has issued any public comments regarding the divorce filing.