The ambitious $6 billion project by R&B singer Akon to create a futuristic city in Senegal is under intense scrutiny as government authorities issue a final ultimatum for the commencement of construction.
Announced four years ago, the project has so far only produced a single arched concrete block at the site.
Senegal’s state-owned tourism and coastal development agency, Sapco-Senegal, has now demanded that Akon start construction or forfeit 90% of the allocated land. This ultimatum follows Akon’s failure to make several payments to Sapco, as reported by Bloomberg.
Akon’s vision for the city included luxury apartments, a resort, hospitals, a police station, and a university, all to be powered by Akoin cryptocurrency. However, Akoin has plummeted in value since its launch, with its price falling from $0.15 to just $0.003 and trading volumes significantly reduced.
The project initially received strong support from the Senegalese government, which granted 136 acres of land in 2020. The city was envisioned as a real-life Wakanda, inspired by Marvel’s Black Panther, featuring condominiums, amusement parks, and a seaside resort powered by solar energy and Akoin.
Despite high hopes that Akon City would drive economic growth in Senegal, local authorities are growing skeptical due to ongoing delays and lack of visible progress.
The first phase of the city was supposed to be completed by 2023, but the COVID-19 pandemic and other setbacks have indefinitely postponed the project.
Meanwhile, Akon has announced plans for a second city in Uganda, which has also faced significant challenges.
Local residents who gave up their land for the project have yet to receive promised compensation, and questions about the financing and feasibility of Akon City remain unanswered.
Despite these issues, Cheick Seck, a project manager with Dakar-based Axiome Construction, maintains that work is progressing, citing geotechnical studies and environmental assessments, though visible development is limited.
Akon, born Aliaune Thiam, spent part of his childhood in Senegal before moving to New Jersey. Rising to fame in the early 2000s with hits like “Locked Up” and “Lonely,” he has sold over 35 million albums worldwide. In 2007, he launched Akon Lighting Africa to bring solar-powered electricity to off-grid communities across the continent. Akon City was his boldest venture yet, endorsed by Senegal’s former president, Macky Sall.
Akon is expected to visit Dakar in the coming weeks to reassure partners and stakeholders of the project’s viability. However, the gap between the ambitious vision for Akon City and its stalled reality continues to widen.
