Mr. Aliaune "Akon" Thiam
Founder & Chairman

An internationally recognized Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling artist, producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Akon is one of the most influential voices in music today. In addition to having two multi-platinum albums, 21 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and over 145 guest appearances with artists such as Michael Jackson and Gwen Stefani to his credit, Akon is the only artist to ever accomplish the feat of holding both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts twice.

Akon has now turned his attention, energy, and love to launch the Konfidence Foundation. Drawing upon his recognizable celebrity combined with pride of his heritage and passion for improving life quality within Africa, Akon looks to broaden the reach of his own philanthropic efforts through the establishment of the Konfidence Foundation.

Akon, the son of two Senegalese natives, was born Aliaune Badara Thiam, in St. Louis and raised in Senegal, Africa until age 7. His father, Mor Thiam, a well respected Senegalese percussionist and jazz musician, and mother, Kine, a renowned African singer, dancer and humanitarian, helped to foster a general love of the arts in Akon as well as a deep

appreciation of his heritage and homeland. Their influences were truly ingrained within Akon and fueled his desire to create a better future for Africa, beginning with Senegal.

It is Akon's vision that the Foundation's concentrated efforts in Senegal will one day serve as the global platform to empower the Africa of tomorrow.

Ms. Kine Gueye Thiam
President & Chief Executive Officer

A native of Senegal raised in a family known for its artistry, community businesses and charity, Kine Fatou Gueye Thiam has extended the legacy of her family to the United States. Kine first came to the United States in 1972, when she caught the eye of legendary choreographer, dancer and social activist, Katherine Dunham, who invited her to teach traditional Senegalese song, dance and culture at her studio and at Southern Illinois University. Soon after, Kine accepted a position at The Performing Arts Training Center (PATC) in East St. Louis where she taught African dance and culture to underprivileged children in an effort to surround them with something more positive than violence.

Inspired by the success of PATC, Kine founded The Institute for the Study of African Culture (ISAC), her own not-for-profit performing arts studio and African cultural education center in 1974. For the next two decades, Kine and her husband, Mor Thiam, tirelessly traveled throughout the country exposing children and their families to African dance and culture. Through the initiatives at ISAC, Kine and her family became recognized for their charitable endeavors and often provided food, shelter and a means to make a living to many Senegalese immigrants who came to the United States.

As president of the Konfidence Foundation, Kine draws on her own experiences as a youth mentor, cultural educator, and community business leader, as well as a loving mother of five children, to execute her son's mission of empowering the people of Africa and restoring hope and confidence to their youth.