Akon City

File:2019_-_Centre_Stage_-_Day_2_VJR22082_(49024259568).jpg

Akon announced Akoin, a cryptocurrency, at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2018. On January 15, 2020, Akon announced plans for Akon City. In September 2020, Akon unveiled a rendering of a planned development of a futuristic city along the Atlantic coast.{{Cite news| last= Paquette |first= Danielle |title=Akon just unveiled his $6 billion 'futuristic' city in Senegal. The reviews are mixed. |language=en-US |newspaper= The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/akon-just-unveiled-his-6-billion-futuristic-city-in-senegal-the-reviews-are-mixed/2020/09/01/56f3b7a4-ebc7-11ea-bd08-1b10132b458f_story.html| access-date=2021-02-25|issn=0190-8286 |date=2020-09-01}} It is {{cvt|100|km}} south of Dakar in Senegal. The planned city would feature condominiums, offices, parks, a university, an ocean resort, and a 5,000-bed hospital. The city is intended to attract tourists and investors; Akon told international media in August 2020 that he planned to retire there. Later renderings included fewer skyscrapers but retained a futuristic design. The city would be located near what is now the village of Mbodiène, a small rural village of about 1,500 people who primarily rely on the agricultural industry.{{cite web | url=https://news.trust.org/item/20201214051133-ojymr/ | title=Future or fantasy? Senegal questions 'Akon City' |first=Nellie |last=Peyton |editor-first=Lyndsay |editor-last=Griffiths |website=Thomson Reuters Foundation |date=2020-12-14}}

Another Akon City was announced in Uganda on April 6, 2021, by Akon alongside Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the state minister for Housing and Urban Development, after Akon had met for discussions with Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni.{{Cite web |date= 2021-04-05|title=Akon to build second futuristic city in Uganda|url=https://thegrio.com/2021/04/05/akon-to-build-second-futuristic-city-in-uganda/|access-date=2021-04-09|website=TheGrio.com |language=en-US |first=Keydra |last=Manns}}{{Cite web| title= Akon Set to Build Futuristic, Cryptocurrency-Based City in Uganda|url=https://www.complex.com/music/akon-set-to-build-futuristic-crypto-currency-based-city-in-uganda|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Complex |first=Xavier |last=Hamilton |date=2021-04-05 |language=en}}{{Cite news|last=Farzan|first=Antonia Noori|author-link=Antonia Noori Farzan|title=Akon hasn't even built his first 'futuristic' city yet, but Uganda is giving him land for a second|language=en-US|newspaper= The Washington Post |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/06/akon-city-uganda/|access-date=2021-04-09|issn=0190-8286 |date=2021-04-06}} Akon further discussed the entire 15-year development project and its alleged benefits to Ugandans in an interview on Uganda's NBS TV with Canary Mugume.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-06|title=Akon explains his futuristic city and how it will benefit Ugandans|url=https://nilepost.co.ug/2021/04/06/akon-explains-his-futuristic-city-and-how-it-will-benefit-ugandans/|access-date=2021-04-09|website= Nile Post|language=en-US |first=Kenneth |last=Kazibwe }}

{{As of |2024|02}}, the project has barely begun construction, with only one building, the Welcome Center, being partially complete.{{Cite web |last=Khan |first=Aina J. |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Akon City: tumbleweed rolls through site of rapper's Wakanda-inspired dream |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/04/akon-city-tumbleweed-rolls-through-site-of-rappers-wakanda-inspired-dream |website=The Guardian |location=Mbodiène}} In September 2021, locals in Mbodiène cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a possible cause for the delay.{{Cite news |last= |date=September 3, 2021 |title=Singer Akon's Senegalese 'Wakanda' city unstarted, locals left in dark |url=https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/03/singer-akon-s-senegalese-wakanda-city-unstarted-locals-left-in-dark/ |work=Africanews}} A local journalist visited the site in December 2022, and apart from a foundation stone laid in a ceremony in 2020, found no sign of construction. Akon told the BBC, "It wasn't being managed properly. I take full responsibility for that."

In August 2024, Sapco-Senegal, the Senegalese national tourism and coastal development entity, has issued Akon an ultimatum to initiate his project or return 90% of the land that was governmentally granted to him. The ultimatum was issued by General Manager Serigne Mboup in response to him failing to fulfill several payments to Sapco.{{Cite web |last=Hoije |first=Katarina |last2=Ojambo |first2=Fred |date=August 2, 2024 |title=Singer Akon’s Multibillion-Dollar Futuristic City in Africa Gets Final Notice |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-02/singer-akon-s-multibillion-dollar-futuristic-city-in-africa-gets-final-notice/ |website=bloomberg.com |access-date=September 27, 2024 }} Although the city's economy was planned to depend on Akoin, its price has dropped from $0.15 at launch in 2020 to $0.003 in August 2024. The city's first phase was scheduled for completion by 2023, but COVID-19 and other setbacks have delayed its development indefinitely. Local residents who have sacrificed their own land for the project have yet to be compensated.{{Cite web |last=Dan-Awoh |first=Deborah |date=August 3, 2024 |title=Singer Akon’s $6 Billion futuristic African City project gets final warning deadline |url=https://nairametrics.com/2024/08/03/singer-akons-6-billion-futuristic-african-city-project-gets-final-warning-deadline/ |website=nairametrics.com |access-date=September 27, 2024 }}

The project is planned to have large skyscrapers, shopping malls, technology hub, music studios, "Senewood" production facilities, and eco-friendly tourist resorts.

Akon City's development is proposed to be a ten-year project with mixed-use development. Akon says that the city will be a smart city that is eco-friendly and will be powered by renewable energy, including solar power. It is a LEED-certified project. The project's stated primary goal is to stimulate the local economy and to create jobs for local workers.{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/resilience/smart-cities/531884-singer-akon-is-raising-6-billion-to-build-a-real|title=Singer Akon is raising $6B to build a real-life Wakanda straight out of the movie 'Black Panther'|first=Anagha|last=Srikanth|date=December 28, 2020|website=The Hill | access-date= }}{{Cite news |url= https://hotelandtourismonline.com/2020/08/12/senegals-tourism-gets-huge-boost-from-akon-city-project/ |title= Senegal's Tourism Gets Huge Boost from 'Akon City' Project |date= August 12, 2020 |website= hotelandtourismonline.com |publisher= |access-date= |archive-date= April 13, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210413011952/https://hotelandtourismonline.com/2020/08/12/senegals-tourism-gets-huge-boost-from-akon-city-project/ |url-status= dead }} Akon City developers are Los Angeles–based KE International and Dubai-based Bakri & Associates Development Consultants. Hussein Bakri, the CEO of Bakri & Associates, is the lead architect.{{Cite news |url=https://www.afrik21.africa/en/senegal-akon-city-the-green-city-project-is-launched-at-a-cost-of-6-billion/ |title=SENEGAL: Akon City, the Green City Project is launched at a cost of $6 billion |date =September 6, 2020 |work= Afrik21 | publisher= | access-date= |first=Jean Marie |last=Takouleu }}

As originally announced, Akon City consisted of two phases of development.

Phase 1: Proposed to be completed by 2023 is the construction of roads, a hospital campus, a shopping mall, residential estates, hotels, a police station, a school, a waste facility, parks, and a photovoltaic solar power plant.{{cite web|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/08/16/the-akon-city-mirage-fades-in-senegal_6716982_124.html|title=The 'Akon City' mirage fades in Senegal|work=Le Monde|date=16 August 2024|accessdate=4 February 2025|first=Célia|last= Cuordifede}}

Only one building has been completed, the Akon City Welcome Center.

Phase 2: The project is proposed to complete between 2024 and 2029.

In an October 2022 interview with DJ Vlad, Akon said that Phase 1 would open by 2026.{{cite news |last1=Yates |first1=Shanique |title=Akon Says The First Phase Of Akon City Will Open In 2026, Reveals City Will House Africa's Largest Hospital |url=https://afrotech.com/akon-says-first-phase-of-akon-city-will-open-in-2026?item=1 |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=AfroTech |date=October 19, 2022 |language=en}}

Akon envisions and started Akoin, a cryptocurrency which he founded, to be the central currency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/25/africa/akon-launch-crypto-city-senegal/index.html |title= Musician Akon is creating a futuristic city and his own cryptocurrency in Senegal| first= Paul |last= Adepoju |date=June 25, 2018 |website= CNN.com | access-date= }}{{Cite news |first=Aaron |last=Smithson| url= https://www.archpaper.com/2020/12/akon-moves-ahead-with-crypto-city-in-senegal-despite-skepticism/|title=Akon moves ahead with crypto city in Senegal despite skepticism |date=December 31, 2020|website=The Architect’s Newspaper |publisher= | access-date= }}{{Cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/music-mogul-akon-going-ahead-with-futuristic-akon-city-in-senegal |title= Music mogul Akon going ahead with futuristic 'Akon City' in Senegal|first=Emmanuel |last=Akinwotu |date=September 1, 2020|work= theguardian.com| publisher= | access-date= }}{{Cite web| url= https://www.blackenterprise.com/akons-tech-utopia/ |title= Akon's Tech Utopia| date=November 15, 2018 |website=Black Enterprise|first=Samara |last=Lynn}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/akon-city-senegal-wakanda-intl/index.html |title=R&B singer Akon is building a 'real-life Wakanda' worth $6 billion in Senegal |first= Aisha |last= Salaudeen |website= CNN.com |date=2 September 2020 |publisher= | access-date= }} The Central Bank of West African States, which regulates and issues Senegal's official currency, the CFA franc, described the use of an alternative currency as illegal.{{cite news |last1=Kobo |first1=Kingsley |title=Akon wants to run a Senegal city on cryptocurrency—could it work? |url=https://qz.com/africa/1994122/akon-plans-to-run-a-senegal-city-on-akoin-cryptocurrency |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=Quartz |date=April 10, 2021 |language=en}} The Akoin cryptocurrency began trading in September 2021 at £0.23 (GBP), and as of December 2022, was worth £0.01.{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Jonathan |title=Akon's Wakanda, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dream |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63988368 |access-date=December 24, 2022 |work=BBC News |date=December 24, 2022}}

Akon raised funds for the project by selling Tokens of Appreciation (TOA) in a campaign that ended in October 2019; each $1 (USD) donated would be converted to up to four TOA, which would later convert to Akoin. Two years after the TOA campaign concluded, an administrator offered cash refunds for TOA; a year after that offer was made, no refunds have been issued.

A lawsuit has been brought against Akon in the United States by Devyne Stephens for a debt of almost $4 million (USD) borrowed as part of the implementation of his futuristic city project. Akon's team has disputed Stephens' claims as "innuendo and speculation."{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Breanna |date=March 10, 2022 |title=Akon Accused of Running 'Ponzi Schemes' |url=https://popculture.com/celebrity/news/akon-accused-of-running-ponzi-schemes/ |website=popculture.com}} In April 2022, part of the lawsuit was settled for $850,000, {{inflation|US|850,000|2022|fmt=eq}}.{{inflation/fn|US}}

Additionally, Akon City has encountered challenges pertaining to land rights. Specifically, there are instances where citizens, who were previous landowners, are entitled to compensation from the Senegalese government, yet some remain unpaid and uncompensated.

Akon has not announced or spoken in public anything about Akon City since 2022; Akon City has made little to no progress after 2022. None of the promised architecture has been built; the only thing built that is related to Akon City is the Akon City Welcome Center.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://akoncity.com}}
• [https://www.akoin.io/ Akoin's official website]

{{Akon|state=expanded}}

Category:Proposed populated places

Category:Proposed special economic zones

Category:Special economic zones

Category:Planned communities

Category:Neo-futurist architecture

Category:Akon

Category:Populated places in Senegal