Senegalese-American singer Akon has ignited a debate by suggesting that men are not inherently wired for commitment. He argues that many relationship issues faced by women are rooted in infidelity. During a recent interview with The Shade Room, the five-time Grammy-nominated musician discussed relationships, gender dynamics, and his personal views on fidelity. Akon stated that men are naturally inclined to have multiple partners and are not designed to remain committed to one woman. He remarked, “Men aren’t committed. We’re not built to be committed. We’re natural breeders by nature, right? Okay. We populate because that’s how God created us. So we can’t be committed to one, two, three. That’s not ours; we’re not wired to be committed.”
However, the 53-year-old artist differentiated between commitment and what he termed “faithfulness.” He insisted that a man could remain emotionally loyal even while being involved with other women. “But faithfulness is something totally different,” he explained. “I could be with a chick and be with her forever through all the problems. No matter what, I can find the baddest chick alive and have my main chick, and I’m just using this as an example. I could be in a hotel, and she busts down the door, and I’m knee-deep in there, and I’m going to jump off and be like, ‘Babe, I don’t even know her.’ She’s out of here. Like, I wouldn’t even know her. She means nothing to me because this is what I’m faithful to.” He further elaborated on the concept of faithfulness, stating, “How many men do you know who will fight for that one because of the mistake they made with something that didn’t matter to them? That’s faithfulness. That’s creating that energy to fight for it.”
Akon also addressed gender dynamics, describing women as highly intelligent and emotionally aware, while suggesting that men have learned to navigate those traits. He claimed that relationship issues among women are almost always linked to another woman. “Every chick that got a problem with their man is over another chick. 99.9%. Do you think that’s a coincidence? That ain’t no coincidence. That’s nature,” he asserted. He praised women’s abilities, saying, “Women, first of all, are the smartest human beings on the planet. You guys can multitask better than anybody in this world. One thing about women is that you guys know us better than we know ourselves.” Akon acknowledged that men often perfect the art of emotion, which can sometimes be perceived as manipulation.
In addition to discussing relationships, Akon clarified his role in the careers of African artists, specifically addressing his connection with Wizkid. He stated, “I didn’t discover Wizkid. Banky W discovered Wizkid. And then I signed Wizkid through Banky W. So that’s how that collaboration went.” He recounted how he was introduced to Wizkid and recognized his potential, noting that they had limited resources at the time. “So when I signed Wiz, that’s when we broke him out of the United States,” he added.
When asked if he considers himself the biggest artist to emerge from Africa, Akon responded, “That’s for the audience to decide, really. I can’t really decide. But if I had to say, if I were the first to grow on a global scale, I could actually say. But I can’t say if I’m the biggest.” He explained that his decreased visibility in the United States was a result of his decision to focus on Africa, particularly Nigeria. After promoting his Freedom album, he shifted his attention to the Nigerian music scene, contributing to the rise of the global Afrobeats movement. “What made the run in America kind of slow down was that I took more time to focus on Africa,” he explained. “In 2008, after I dropped my last Freedom album, I promoted it in the US for about two years. 2010 came; I produced the World Cup, and then I went straight to Nigeria.”
Akon reflected on his early career, noting that his sound was difficult to categorize, with people unsure whether it was hip-hop, R&B, or reggae. He credited his collaboration with Styles P for helping to place him in the hip-hop genre, although he does not identify as a rapper. Rising to global prominence in 2004 with “Locked Up,” Akon became one of the defining voices of the 2000s, blending R&B, hip-hop, and African influences. Beyond his musical achievements, he is recognized for supporting and developing global stars through his record labels. However, he faced backlash from Nigerians in May 2025 after claiming he created the Afrobeats genre and introduced it to the country, a statement critics deemed a revisionist take on history. In September 2025, reports emerged that Akon’s wife of nearly 30 years, Tomeka Thiam, had filed for divorce.
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