Akon, whose real names are Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, born on April 16, 1973  to muslim parents from Senegal.  He spent a significant part of his childhood in Senegal, which he described as his hometown. His father was a percussionist and his mother a dancer. As a kid, Akon learned to play five instruments, including drums, guitar and djembe. At age 7, he moved with his family to  back to the US, New Jersey,splitting his time between the United States and Senegal until settling in Newark, New Jersey.