Akon praises Nigerians for their intelligence and applauds the global rise of Afrobeats and Nigerian music stars

Senegalese-American singer Akon has praised Nigerians for their creativity and achievements in music, describing them as “the most intelligent people on the planet” while applauding the global success of Afrobeats.

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Akon made the remarks during a recent episode of the We Need To Talk podcast, where the award-winning singer also reflected on his career and memorable moments with late pop icon Michael Jackson.

Speaking about his relationship with Michael Jackson, Akon described collaborating with the legendary entertainer as the proudest moment of his musical journey.

“My photo with Michael Jackson is my most proudest photo. I was already a full-blown celebrity at the point the photo was taken,” Akon said.

“But I am a child compared to this man. He is like everybody’s idol.”

The 53-year-old singer also highlighted his longstanding support for African music and revealed his involvement in helping to promote Nigerian artists on the global stage.

Akon noted that he worked closely with Banky W’s Empire Mates Entertainment and supported the rise of several Nigerian Afrobeats stars, including P-Square and Wizkid.

“Nigerians are the most intelligent people on the planet. They have done amazingly well with Afrobeats,” he added.

The singer’s comments come amid the continued international expansion of Nigerian music, with Afrobeats artists dominating global charts, major festivals and streaming platforms.

Akon has previously collaborated with African musicians and invested heavily in entertainment and development projects across the continent, further strengthening his connection with African audiences.

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His latest remarks have sparked positive reactions among fans, many of whom viewed the comments as recognition of Nigeria’s growing cultural influence in global music.