Akon Shows Up In Malta, Has A Game Plan For Paris

By: Janine Coveney

Senegalese-born hip-hop star Akon surprised fans in the tiny Mediterranean country of Malta on Saturday (July 28th), showing up at the open center for illegal immigrants in Marsa with the American ambassador there. Akon had performed at the nearby Granaries in Floriana at the Isle Of MTV Festival on Thursday.

Akon encouraged the many African immigrants, saying that the Maltese need to "come out of their shell" regarding immigration problems and adding, "We are all one people at the end of the day. Africans helped build this side of the world 300 years ago when we were taken but nobody helped build Africa. Now we need to help build that side of the world."

The singer, who lives in Atlanta, is the founder of the Konfidence Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to charitable projects in Senegal and other parts of Africa.

Meanwhile, Akon continues to be a force in pop music. He reportedly wants to take on the music career of newly sprung hotel heiress Paris Hilton, according to an interview with TeenMusic.com. "In my mind I was thinking now Paris Hilton is an official convict, I think I'm gonna get with her and put a record out," said the artist, who himself spent time in prison and called his first album Konvicted.

He added: "I would definitely sign her to my label 'cause she's a character. You give her the cutest record, something that's just for women, an anthem; I think it will be outta here!"