Akon finalises agreement to build his own Mega-city in Senegal

The president of the country, Macky Sal gifted the land for the project to Akon. The artist said It will be named “Akon City” and will run its financial operations on cryptocurrency called the “Akoin”.

The five time Grammy award nominee recently posted a picture of himself posing with Senegalese officials on social media, writing: “Just finalised the agreement for Akon City in Senegal. Looking forward to hosting you there in the future.”

Akon, real name Aliaune Damala Thiam – spent his early childhood in Senegal and moved to the US, age six. He gained international stardom after the release of his 2004 debut album Trouble that featured hits that included ‘Locked Up’, ‘Ghetto’and ‘Lonely’. His 2006 album Konvicted was also a commercial success.

In recent years Akon has expanded his philanthropic efforts, setting up the Akoin Foundation, which he said is; “to empower young entrepreneurs first in Africa”. His Lighting Africa Initiative started in 2014 is focused on helping more Africans have access to different forms of off-grid energy. Two years after he secured 1 billion USD Chinese credit line to back his solar project, which helped provide electricity to 600 million Africans.

Akon announced in 2018, he was working with the Senegalese government to build a tourist-city, he said: “Akon City will be built up over a decade and that it will be powered by renewable energy.”

Akon, speaking to Vise Magazine on his Akoin cryptocurrency in 2018 said “This coin is focused specifically on Africa. Businesses that could be utilised in Africa, the population that can be using it in Africa, and, more importantly than anything, the entrepreneurs that can be developed and honed in Africa.”

Artist Timbaland celebrated the news of Akon’s deal, on social media “Congrats to Akon for owning a city in Senegal. Major motivation.”