Senegalese-American music icon Akon recently shared heartfelt remarks about the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, calling his collaboration with the legend the pinnacle of his career. Speaking on the ‘We Need To Talk’ podcast, Akon revealed that a photo with Jackson remains his most cherished possession, despite his own fame at the time. ‘I was already a huge star when that picture was taken, but next to him, I feel like a child,’ Akon said. ‘Growing up, he was everyone’s idol, and working with him was surreal.’
The 53-year-old singer also turned his attention to African music, proudly noting his role in boosting Afrobeats globally. He acknowledged signing Nigerian acts like P-Square and had a hand in Wizkid’s early career through Banky W’s Empire Mate Entertainment. Akon didn’t hold back his admiration for Nigerians, stating, ‘Nigerians are the most intelligent people on the planet. What they’ve done with Afrobeats is incredible.’