Akon City: A Planned Futuristic City in Senegal

Senegalese-American singer Akon is known for many things. Besides his prominent status as a rapper and record producer, he is also a generous philanthropist.

In 2014, Akon created the “Akon Lighting Africa” project that supplies electricity to 15 African countries. In addition, he established an African charity called “Konfidence Foundation,” which strives to help underprivileged African children get a better education.

His latest planned project is to construct a futuristic city in Senegal, the West African country where he grew up. The farming village of Mbodiene is where he wants to build the city. It is a very rural location with miles of scrubland, and a one-lane highway with cowherds found up and down the road.

Akon City would undoubtedly help local villagers find more business and education opportunities. However, it is still unclear whether Akon can obtain land rights to build the city in Mbodiene or secure enough financing to complete the project. Even though Akon is worth an estimated $80 million, creating an entire city is no cheap task--- even for a multimillionaire.

Akon’s inspiration to build the city came from the famous Hollywood superhero movie Black Panther, which showcased a technologically advanced African country called Wakanda. Akon believes he can turn that fictional country into the most technologically advanced African city on the continent.

Akon has planned every aspect of the city, including the structure of its economy. Rather than depending on paper currency and gold, the city is going to use a new cryptocurrency named “AKoin” to stimulate its economy. The cryptocurrency will help elevate people’s financial status and lift them out of poverty.

All of the modern conveniences will be available in Akon City, such as schools, universities, stadia, roads, cars, light manufacturing facilities and the list goes on. It would certainly create a better lifestyle for the villagers than what they are accustomed to right now.

Let’s see if Akon can make it happen.