There are certain variables, such as distance, single stories and economic philosophies that tends to create a cultural disconnect in the world. These elements, as we’ve seen, can create a false perceptions of entire civilizations. And none is more prevalent than actual ignorance.

People all over the world have a habit of creating a narrative of something or someone based on a whatever limited pool of knowledge they draw from.

It is evident in the fact that some Nigerians believe that all Chinese people can fight karate, when black Americans put out tweets that denote that Africans have no access to WiFi, and today it was glaring when popular R&B singer Akon, made a statement about Congolese men being able to fight gorillas with their bare hands.

@Akon stop lying please. pic.twitter.com/Gu8Fertkmc

— Yomatornawo (@Yom_writer_poet) July 10, 2020

Akon is an American singer who has enjoyed huge success in his music career. He is fairly global and has a number of achievements to his name. Perhaps this is reason why when he proudly claims to be Africa we are quick to appreciate that.

Through out the course of his career, Akon has never shied away from his heritage. He constantly and proudly declares his African origins.

As a result he has collaborated with African artists, created business initiatives and programs in his native home of Senegal, and sign African artists to his record label.

Everything he does screams Africa, including when he orchestrates music collaborations between African and American artists. But today, Africans seemed disappointed in his statement about Congolese people. His statement gave off the impression that he is either ignorant or has been a phony all this time.

In the video, he tells famed retired boxer Mike Tyson that Congolese men can fight gorillas with their bare hands, and that’s why they are always at war. He said this after Iron Mike had stated that his ancestry test results came back as Congolese.

Tweets from Africans show just how outraged and disappointed they are at the singer, especially considering he has acted as somewhat of an African ambassador to Americans. Here are some of the reactions thus far:

https://twitter.com/Master_Siddiq/status/128159880373336883

Akon thinks Africans in Africa do not have internet to see his fuckshit https://t.co/27JFjrOGFs

— MXM (@mxmsworld) July 10, 2020

This is why I hate these americans. "They kill gorillas" with their bare hands. They're the same as the ignorant white people in America. Akon is an idiot. https://t.co/DUZZ43uHbS

— Fantasma (@GhanaianGhost) July 10, 2020

Akon is actually dehumanising his people. How can u say we can kill Gorillas with bare hands? And you wonder why some white people have an irrational fear of us in normal situations.

— Babz צַדִּיק (@Master_Siddiq) July 10, 2020

Akon no longer senegalese. He stays embarrassing us we tired. https://t.co/XkUnLZF2fJ

— DELA MOVE??? (@NestaWane) July 10, 2020

According to Akon, Us Congolese people can kill gorillas with our bare hands ????

Like the way he was telling that story is as if he saw it with his own two eyes?? pic.twitter.com/Bk1ddmY1lQ

— CHÉRIE B ?? (@_Chxrie_) July 10, 2020

By God's grace, Akon will soon fully cast. Confident oniro

— Jola (@Jollz) July 10, 2020