Akon’s $6 billion futuristic pan-African city in Senegal to begin early 2021
The pandemic of coronavirus might have had a major leftward effect on the world economy. But that did not prevent Akon, a musicist and business mogul, from continuing to plan to build a futuristic pan-African city in his homeland, Senegal.
The Locked Up singer, who spent the greatest part of his childhood in West Africa, announces in an interview with the Associated Press that construction for the $6 billion project begins early next year.
Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, born in Marvel, spoke of his plans to build the city in 2018 and described it as “a Wakanda of real life” referring to an African-Futurist City in the film Black Panther. He also said the town would be using an AKoin cryptocurrency.
In addition, the musician told the Associated Press that he hope to create jobs in the western African nation for the local people as well as to serve as the “home back home” for Black Americans and other racially discriminated people in the diaspora.
“The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way,” said Akon.
“So if you’re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.”
The singer, who visited the Mbodienne project site with government officials on, said he was able to acquire one-third of the $6 billion needed for the project. However, the investors did not report that deals on non-disclosure are in place.
“COVID-19 has sown doubt everywhere. This means that those who had doubts about the attractiveness of Senegal, and Africa in general must convince themselves that there are men and women who believe in Africa,” he told the Associated Press.
The first phase of the project will take three years when construction begins. The city is provided with a hotel with rooms specifically intended for each of the 54 African countries, a seaside resort, a tech center, a film center called “Senewood” as well as studios for filming, etc.
Akon has initiated several construction projects in the African continent in the past few years. In 2014, the singer began his Akon Lighting Africa project to supply solar power to Africa.
The initiative has sponsored many solar lights across African countries, including Mali, the Republic of Guinea, Benin, Senegal, Niger, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville, Kenya, Burki Leone, Nigeria, Madagascar and Namibia. This initiative has contributed to the disappearance of Senegal as a grandmother’s home.
“It was a way of just trying to figure out what solution would be necessary to get electricity there,” Akon said about the project. “In the process, you start to realize how many people are out there lacking electricity, especially in Africa.”
