Record producer and entrepreneur Akon had quite a few of Mzansi’s tweeps stunned by his comment about white South Africans living in the poorer regions of South Africa, with many calling him a liar.
The Senegalese-American musician got candid on Revolt’s Drink Champs podcast. In a discussion with hosts N.O.R.E and DJ EFN, Akon spoke about his career spanning over 25 years and his plans to build an African city.
He then went on to speak about South Africa. Twitter user @Mothematiks shared a snippet of the interview, captioning the video, “Akon lying on the public platform about South Africa.”
Akon is heard saying, “And what’s crazy is certain parts of Africa, or South Africa, the white folks are the ones in the ghettos. If you go to South Africa, the richest people in South Africa are the black ones.”
He then says, “It’s almost like a flip … Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, everywhere you go there’s areas where there’s poor people but the poorest areas are the poor parts where the white folks are.”
The Lonely hitmaker then tells the hosts that there is a Netflix special which explains his above claims. “I’ve gotta remember the name though. If you search South Africa on there, it’ll pop up.”
Akon lying on the public platform about South Africa ??♂️ pic.twitter.com/AtOR0RlRx2
— Kgoshi Ya Lebowa (@Mothematiks) July 18, 2023
Seeing the video, a tweep commented, “Definitely talking about Johannesburg visits. His exposure and experience of South Africa [were] isolated and secluded within the black diamonds of SA in the Jozi region, his hosts are of the affluent black elite. Which informs his belief that wealth in SA is black-owned.”
Definitely talking about Johannesburg visits.
His exposure amd experience of South Africa was isolated and secluded within the black diamonds of SA in the Jozi region, his hosts are of the affluent black elite. Which informs his belief that wealth in SA is black owned.
— Ms Mam. (@mxnoir_) July 18, 2023
The show’s host DJ EFN also commented: “I can’t speak to what he was saying but I was referring to the areas and violence that was happening in the mixed neighbourhoods of the Cape Flats while I was there.”
@Mothematiks responded, “Cool bro. As for Akon he was lied to and took that lie as gospel, unfortunately.”
Cool bro. As for Akon he was lied to and took that lie as gospel unfortunately.
— Kgoshi Ya Lebowa (@Mothematiks) July 18, 2023
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