Akon's Real Name: Akon
Akon → Akon
Quick answer: The Senegalese American singer is known professionally as Akon. Independent publishers disagree on a longer legal form and on his exact birth date. Biography.com uses Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam and dates his birth to April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. Encyclopedia.com uses Aliaune Akon Thiam, places the birth in St. Louis, and gives a birthday of April 30, while saying the year is disputed, with many outlets citing 1981 (Biography; Encyclopedia.com).
Real name and early life
Both sources agree he was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Senegalese parents and spent early years in Dakar, Senegal, before returning to the United States around age seven. Encyclopedia.com specifies a later move to Jersey City, New Jersey; Biography.com also places his growing up in Jersey City. His father, Mor Thiam, is identified as a percussionist in both accounts; Biography.com adds that his mother, Kine Thiam, is a dancer. Because the two publishers conflict on the spelling of the longer name (Aliaume versus Aliaune) and on April 16, 1973, versus April 30 with a disputed year, this page titles the public name Akon rather than choosing one fuller form.
Career highlights
Biography.com dates his debut album, Trouble, to 2004, with the singles "Locked Up" and "Lonely," and his second album, Konvicted, to 2006, with chart-topping singles including "Smack That," featuring Eminem, and "I Wanna Love You," featuring Snoop Dogg. It lists a third album, Freedom, in 2008, later collaborations including Gwen Stefani and the 2009 Michael Jackson duet "Hold My Hand," and a co-writing credit on Lady Gaga's "Just Dance." Encyclopedia.com independently places the St. Louis birth, Senegalese family background, and early New Jersey years that framed that career.
Legal notes
Biography.com reports that in 2008 it was revealed he had exaggerated a criminal background he had described in interviews, and that a 1998 stolen-car case ended after a short jail stay when the charges were dropped. Encyclopedia.com, in an earlier profile, described time served for auto theft without that later correction. This page records those publishers' wording and does not treat the record as settled beyond what they state.
Name notes for searchers
Akon is the professional name. Biography.com's longer form is Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam; Encyclopedia.com uses Aliaune Akon Thiam. Searchers looking for Trouble, Konvicted, or "Locked Up" are usually aiming at the same person.
FAQ
What is Akon's real name?
He is known professionally as Akon. Biography.com uses Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam; Encyclopedia.com uses Aliaune Akon Thiam.
When and where was he born?
Both sources place the birth in St. Louis, Missouri. Biography.com gives April 16, 1973. Encyclopedia.com gives April 30 and says the year is disputed, with many outlets citing 1981.
What were his breakthrough albums?
Trouble in 2004 and Konvicted in 2006, according to Biography.com.
Did he grow up only in Missouri?
No. Both sources say he spent early childhood in Dakar, Senegal, then returned to the United States around age seven, with later years in Jersey City, New Jersey.