World-renowned singer, Akon, has been given an ultimatum by the Senegalese government to start building his ambitious Akon City project or risk losing most of the land allocated for it. This comes after years of delays and controversies surrounding the project which was first announced in 2018
The General Manager of the state-owned entity responsible for developing the country’s tourism told Bloomberg that Akon faces the loss of 90% of the allocated land if the project remains undeveloped and construction does not begin
In 2018, Akon unveiled plans for Akon City, a $6 billion futuristic city on 130 acres along Senegal’s Atlantic coast, inspired by the fictional Wakanda city from Black Panther.
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The City’s vision includes a range of amenities, such as luxury condos, educational institutions, medical facilities, and entertainment spaces, all intended to be powered by Akon’s cryptocurrency, Akoin.
The notice from the Senegalese government comes as a result of the project’s failure to meet its initial timeline, which anticipated construction to start in 2020 and the first phase to be completed by 2023. Minimal progress has been made as of February 2024.
Despite promises of economic growth and job creation by Akon, the locals and critics are unconvinced citing doubts about the project’s feasibility, labor participation, and issues of transparency.
