‘My biggest thing to do as an upcoming artiste was distancing myself from my African descent’ — Akon reveals

Renowned R&B singer Akon, who has been a prominent figure in the music industry for nearly two decades is sharing insights into his musical evolution and the freedom to embrace his African heritage in his latest work.

Born in the United States but with roots in Senegal, Akon spent his formative years moving between New Jersey and Africa, where he developed a deep connection to both Western and African musical traditions.

However, when he embarked on his music career in the early 2000s, he found that producers and the industry were primarily interested in promoting only one aspect of his heritage.

"One of the biggest things that I had to actually distance myself from at the time when I did come out, was the fact that I was African," Akon shared with BBC Newsbeat.

"That wasn't really something that they could market or promote in that kind of arena that I was actually playing in" he recounted.

Despite this early struggle, Akon achieved immense commercial success with hit songs like "Lonely" and "Locked Up."

However, the demands of the music business and the pressure to generate revenue influenced his creative output.

"Everything had to be so calculated," he explained. "It becomes stressful and starts to feel like work."

Akon has ventured into various business endeavors, including launching his own record label and establishing the Konvict Clothing line.

While some projects, such as his vision of creating a "real-life Wakanda" in Senegal with its cryptocurrency, did not unfold as expected, Akon reached a point where he no longer depended on others for financial support.

Now, 50 years old, making music has become more about "the passion and love for music."

According to him, this newfound creative freedom allows him to infuse "more of an African influence" into his work, as the pressure to generate income has diminished.

"Music is not my first revenue stream now, it has dropped down to maybe the tenth," Akon revealed.

With this financial independence, Akon is able to incorporate more cultural elements into his songs.

His latest EP, "Afro Freaks," draws heavily from Afrobeats, a genre that blends African and Western influences.

Akon believes that this genre, which has gained global prominence thanks to artists like Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy, has the potential to shape the future of music.

"I can enjoy doing it without dealing with politics and the music business that comes with it," he noted.