Akon’s Wife Ends 29-Year Union Just Days Before Anniversary

12 September 2025

Just days before what would have been their 29th wedding anniversary on September 15, Tomeka Thiam filed for divorce from the singer Aliaune Thiam better known as Akon. The filing, dated September 11, 2025, cites irreconcilable differences.

Tomeka is seeking joint legal custody of their 17-year-old daughter, Journey. She is also asking for sole physical custody of the teenager. In addition to custody she is requesting spousal support, and she wants the court to prevent Akon from receiving any spousal support himself.

Akon, 52, and Tomeka married in 1996. Their nearly three-decade long marriage has been under public scrutiny in recent years especially because of Akon’s views and personal life. He has openly discussed practicing polygamy as part of his culture. In interviews he has said he has nine children and identified having multiple partners and wives. He has also described his role as more of a provider rather than someone always present for everyday moments.

Tomeka Thiam has kept a relatively lower public profile compared to her husband. She is known to have business interests and to have focused on family life. Their daughter Journey is the only child referenced in the divorce filing.

The timing of the filing just four days before their anniversary adds poignancy to the announcement. It signals that whatever happened behind closed doors had reached a point of no return even as the milestone approached. The legal documents seek to establish separation formally though they do not specify the date on which they separated.

Questions about asset division and financial support are central to the petition. By asking that Akon not receive spousal support, Tomeka appears keen to define terms that protect her interests. The custody arrangement she seeks joint legal custody but sole physical custody would allow Akon visitation with Journey but not as a co-resident.

The case highlights tensions between personal beliefs and public image. Akon has spoken about his cultural background and how polygamy fits into it. He has defended having multiple families and children across different households. In doing so he has created a public narrative that many media outlets have followed with interest.

For supporters of Tomeka this moment may represent an assertion of independence and an insistence on having her voice heard. For Akon it marks a shift away from what has been a long-standing public partnership. Both roles will likely be scrutinised in media and in court as the divorce proceeds.

As of now neither Akon nor his representatives have issued a detailed public comment regarding the divorce filing. The legal proceedings are expected to bring additional filings, possibly addressing support, visitation schedules, and the nature of their separation. Journey’s welfare will almost certainly be central to the decisions made. The world will be watching how two people who once built a life together now navigate its dissolution.