Akon Compared African And Black American Artists & Twitter Isn't Having It
By Jovonne Ledet
December 27, 2022
Akon is facing heat on social media after he compared the stage presence of African and Black American artists in an interview that's gone viral.
The singer sat down with Zeze Millz last week for an interview where Akon pointed out what he believes is the difference between African and Black American performers.
"We a little different when it comes to stage presence," Akon said referring to Africans. "Now in America, oh yeah, them n***** gone be wobbling, pants hanging half down, bored as hell, half to sleep because they high as hell on stage."
"Look at these youtube clips of all these kids from Uganda. These kids are performers." the Sengalese-American artist continued before asserting that stage presence "for us [Africans], it comes natural."
Twitter users slammed Akon for his comments.
"Why is this even a question or a comment. Especially when Michael Jackson, James Brown, Usher, Beyoncé, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson are top performers," one social media user wrote.
Why is this even a question or a comment. Especially when Michael Jackson, James Brown, Usher, Beyoncé, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson are top performers.
— Big Phat Jenny (@SimiraNB) December 25, 2022
"Akon would be nothing if he didn’t cosplay black Americans. His entire career is him ingratiating himself in black American culture. If he didn’t swag off black Americans… nobody would know him. He didn’t pop because of African culture… he made it by cosplay’n black Americans," another said.
Akon would be nothing if he didn’t cosplay black Americans. His entire career is him ingratiating himself in black American culture. If he didn’t swag off black Americans… nobody would know him. He didn’t pop because of African culture… he made it by cosplay’n black Americans
— Rock A (@RockA1Buck) December 26, 2022
See more reactions to the viral interview below.
first of all, using the N-word referring to US...completely out of pocket. Secondly, he sounds ignorant AF! I would say more but I'm practicing grace and medu nefer (this is going to be real tough).
— Karen Hunter (@karenhunter) December 27, 2022
It is crazy to me that the interviewers never ask the most basic follow-up questions. If all of the natural talent is back home, why did he have to come here and assimilate into hip hop to make a name? They should have genres of their own popping off worldwide.
— Ms. Sn@cks (@HenriettaSnacks) December 26, 2022
Foundational Black Americans are paying attention to this, and candid interviews like this are going to add to reasons why future artist out of Africa will start to find it harder to pop off here.
— AugSly19🇺🇸 (@SilentCalm19) December 26, 2022
You're letting us see how truly Anti-Black American ppl over there are.
C'mon mayne, I swear we be causing the most division amongst ourselves pic.twitter.com/TlVoUb8vEt
— Ray Gatsby (@ShadrockQSC) December 26, 2022
Akon really said that shit as if we do not have iconic Black American artists/performers. I mean the list is long honey. pic.twitter.com/FWwrYEuAfp
— Toni Carter (@ToniLaNae) December 26, 2022
Idk why y'all entertaining Akon when Motown's catalog alone is more talented than the entire continent 🤷🏿♂️
— Marcus 🇺🇲 (@Jigsawbanks) December 26, 2022
AKON DOES NOT SPEAK FOR AFRICANS! Please don’t allow this buffoon to begin that Africa vs AA nonsense abegggggg. https://t.co/z7DRX73935
— Barbie💓💅🏾 (@pepperdemlem) December 27, 2022
As a Ghanaian-American, I hate this with every fiber of my body for so many reasons, but what really gets me about this entire "conversation" is Akon using AAVE while degrading African-Americans.
— Anna Gifty (@itsafronomics) December 26, 2022
It is both a slap in the face and peak anti-Blackness. https://t.co/56sPlAWN7Z
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