According to The Source, Despite being born in St. Louis, Missouri, Akon considers Africa to be his home. So, when he performed in a large outdoor space neighboring an airport in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, one could consider it a homecoming for the immensely successful artist, producer, label executive, and 5-time Grammy nominee. That being said, the Ebola virus is no joke, and to avoid contracting it from anybody, when Akon left the stage to crowd surf with the people that were attending his concert, he did so in a huge plastic protective bubble.
The concert was held in order to help bring a sense of peace and togetherness to the city of Goma, which has been plagued with violence and unrest for the better part of the past two decades. Akon’s performance was widely publicized throughout the city, and prior to the show, 60,000 free tickets were given out. The show was a part of a much larger activation which was put together to help promote and support the United Nations’ International Day Of Peace.