Akon
Awards & Honours
37
Awards Won
5
Honours
4
Rankings
5
Covers
2
Records
Akon's career is marked by historic chart achievements and global influence. He was the first solo artist to simultaneously hold the top two spots on the Billboard Hot 100 twice, a feat that underscores his dominance in the mid-2000s. His songwriting and production work helped launch Lady Gaga into superstardom, and his own catalog has sold over 35 million records worldwide. He holds a Guinness World Record for selling 11 million master ringtones. Beyond music, his philanthropic work through Akon Lighting Africa has brought electricity to millions, and his ambitious Akon City project aims to create a futuristic, crypto-powered urban center in Senegal.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Guinness World Record – Best Selling Master Ringtone Artist
Sold 11 million master ringtones globally.
Honorary Chief of Mbodiene, Senegal
Named honorary chief for contributions to the community.
Forbes Celebrity 100
Ranked #80 on the list of most powerful celebrities.
Forbes 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa
Ranked #5.
Billboard Decade-End Top Digital Songs Artists
Ranked #6 for the 2000s.
Rankings & Lists
Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists
Billboard Decade-End Top Digital Songs Artists
Forbes Celebrity 100
Forbes 40 Most Powerful Celebrities in Africa
Magazine Covers
Rolling Stone
July 2007
Akon: The R&B King of Pop
Billboard
December 2006
Akon: The Hitman
Vibe
September 2007
Akon: The Soul of a Superstar
XXL
March 2007
Akon: The Konvict
Forbes Africa
September 2014
Akon: Lighting Up Africa
Records & Feats
First solo artist to hold #1 and #2 on Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously twice
In 2007, Akon held the top two spots with 'Don't Matter' and his feature on Gwen Stefani's 'The Sweet Escape', then repeated the feat later that year.
Best-selling master ringtone artist worldwide
Guinness World Record for 11 million master ringtones sold by December 2007.