Senegalese-American music icon Akon has stirred public debate following his remarks about billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s stance on race relations and land ownership in South Africa. Speaking in a recent episode of the Bagfuel Brigade podcast, Akon suggested that Musk’s activism stems from a perception that white South Africans are now living in worse conditions than their Black counterparts.
Akon, known for his philanthropic work and influence in global music, touched on Musk’s recent controversial remarks about racial inequality in South Africa, referencing Musk’s criticism of new land reform laws passed under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration.
Musk Accuses South Africa of “Racist” Land Policies
Elon Musk, born and raised in Pretoria, South Africa, has been outspoken about what he sees as reverse discrimination in the country, particularly regarding land ownership. Earlier this year, Musk took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to label South Africa’s land reform legislation as “racist,” accusing the government of failing to protect white farmers from what he called a “genocide.”
His comments came after the Ramaphosa-led administration enacted the Expropriation Bill into law in January. The legislation gives the South African government authority to expropriate land—sometimes without compensation—under specific conditions such as public interest or where land has been abandoned.
Musk’s remarks were met with mixed reactions, with some defending his concerns about property rights, while others accused him of exaggerating racial tensions in a country still grappling with the legacy of apartheid.
Akon: “White South Africans Now Live in the Hood”
In his podcast appearance, Akon appeared to side with Musk’s perspective, claiming that white South Africans are now the ones facing social and economic disadvantage.
“In South Africa, white people don’t have it as good as white people have in America,” Akon said. “South Africa is probably the one place in Africa that was able to switch the table where the white folks live in the hood and the Black people are living good. This is why Elon Musk is fighting for those white folks in South Africa.”
He continued, “He feels like they are being mistreated and there is no equality. White folks are fighting for equality in South Africa because Blacks are the majority. Blacks in South Africa are united, if all the other African countries do that, we will be the superpower of the universe.”
Claims Clash with Data on Racial Inequality in South Africa
Despite Akon’s assertion that Black South Africans enjoy better living conditions than their white counterparts, available data paints a more complex and often contradictory picture.
According to a 2022 report by the World Bank, South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. The average white worker earns nearly three times more than the average Black South African worker. Furthermore, despite comprising only 7% of the national population, white South Africans still own about 72% of the country’s farmland—an enduring vestige of apartheid-era land dispossession.
The South African government has argued that the Expropriation Act is part of broader efforts to rectify historical injustices and redistribute land more equitably. However, critics, including Musk, argue that the legislation could discourage investment and deepen racial divisions.
Musk’s Family History and Interest in South Africa
Elon Musk’s interest in South African issues is personal as well as political. Born in 1971 in Pretoria, Musk emigrated to Canada in the late 1980s before eventually settling in the United States. Although he has rarely returned to South Africa in recent decades, Musk has increasingly commented on the country’s political landscape in recent years.
His claim that there is a “genocide” against white farmers has been widely criticized and fact-checked by local and international media. South African police and human rights organizations have found no evidence to support such an accusation. While farm attacks do occur, they affect farmers of all races, and the South African government has rejected the idea that white farmers are being targeted due to their race.
Akon’s Comments Draw Mixed Reactions
Akon’s comments have triggered debate on social media, with some users accusing him of misrepresenting the realities on the ground in South Africa.
One user wrote, “Akon clearly doesn’t understand South Africa’s socio-economic landscape. Black South Africans are still battling structural inequality every day.”
Another countered, “He’s just pointing out how things have shifted socially. There are white South Africans living in poverty, which is true, but it doesn’t erase the data showing systemic inequality still exists.”
A few listeners supported Akon’s message, especially his broader call for unity among Africans. “He’s right about African unity,” one user commented. “If we could get that kind of cohesion across the continent, the rest of the world would have to respect Africa.”
South Africa’s Complex Legacy of Race and Power
Nearly 30 years after the end of apartheid, South Africa continues to wrestle with the legacy of racial segregation, especially in areas like education, employment, and land reform. While some progress has been made in creating a multiracial democracy, the country’s Black majority still disproportionately suffers from poverty and unemployment.
White South Africans, though smaller in number, continue to enjoy economic advantages largely inherited from decades of institutionalized privilege. However, poverty among poor white communities has grown in recent years, leading to increasing concerns about widening class divides across racial lines.
Conclusion
Akon’s remarks about Elon Musk and race relations in South Africa have added fuel to an already charged conversation about inequality, power, and perception. While his comments may oversimplify the realities of South Africa’s racial and economic dynamics, they highlight how global figures continue to influence narratives around Africa’s development and identity.
As land reform efforts continue and debates around equity persist, the challenge for South Africa remains finding a path forward that acknowledges past injustices while building a more inclusive future for all its citizens—regardless of race.
