Ah, love sweet in the beginning, bitter in the courtroom.
This week, social media lit up after reports that Akon’s wife, Tomeka Thiam, is demanding €100 million (about US$108 million) in a divorce settlement. Yes, the same Akon who once sang “Don’t Matter” is now facing a matter that very much does the kind that can drain both your heart and your bank account.
But what shocked many wasn’t the amount it was the revelation that Akon’s official bank account allegedly had only US$10,000. Ten thousand! For a man who brought light to Africa, the numbers looked… dim.
Some say Akon moved his assets under his mother’s name to protect them a move that immediately reminded people of Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi, who pulled a similar stunt in 2020 when his wife filed for divorce. She walked into court ready to cash out only to find that everything from the cars to the mansions were in his mother’s name.
It was the plot twist of the century. Social media crowned him “the smartest man alive.” But let’s pause the applause for a second and look at this from a business perspective.
When Mama Becomes the CEO of Your Wealth
Putting your wealth in your mother’s name might seem clever at first until you consider the risk.
What happens when Mama finds love again and remarries?
Legally, once she’s married, everything registered under her name becomes part of her new estate. Meaning, if she ties the knot, that new husband could inherit your mansions, your money, even your hard-earned properties.
So while Akon and Hakimi may have outsmarted their exes, they could be outplayed by future “stepdads.”
This is why African entrepreneurs need to think beyond emotional fixes and start building structured protection through family trusts.
The Power of a Family Trust
A family trust isn’t just for billionaires it’s for anyone who wants to protect their legacy, their assets, and their peace of mind.
When you set up a trust:
1. You choose your trustees the people who manage the wealth.
2. You define your beneficiaries those who will benefit from it.
3. You can even set rules that govern the trust, such as:
“If a partner is caught cheating or misusing family funds, they are automatically disqualified from benefiting.”
In short, a trust allows you to speak before and from the grave in protect your empire beyond your lifetime.
African Entrepreneurs, Let’s Be Honest
Most of our tears don’t come from strangers they come from the people closest to us.
We work hard, build empires, and then lose everything in emotional storms divorces, disputes, and deaths without wills.
If Akon’s and Hakimi’s situations teach us anything, it’s that wealth without structure is like water in your hands it will slip through.
It’s time we stop “registering things under Mama’s name” and start building family trusts, creating generational structures, and protecting wealth the smart way.
Because when love fails, systems save.
“Love can fade. Life can change. But a well-structured trust? That’s forever.”
By The Chartered Vendor
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