Singer Akon Given Final Notice To Begin Construction Of “Akon City” or Face Eviction

Senegalese singer Akon has been served a final notice to begin construction of his proposed $6 billion project “Akon City” by Senegalese authorities.

Failure to act will result in the government taking back 90% of the land granted to him.

Flashback

In 2020, Senegal gave the artist 136 acres of land on its Atlantic Coast to build his Akon City which was envisioned as a real-life Wakanda, from the Black Panther movies.

The project was to include condominiums, amusement parks, and a seaside resort. It would be powered by solar power and would utilise his Akoin cryptocurrency.

Between The Lines

In his proposal, Akon stated that residents and visitors would use Akoin cryptocurrency which would launch that year.

Akoin launched in November 2020 but has dwindled to just $0.003 by December 11, the last available price on crypto exchanges.

Flash Forward

Six years later, the Akon City project has yet to take off with Senegalese authorities growing increasingly impatient.

Digging Deeper

According to sources, Sapco-Senegal, the state-owned entity charged with developing the country’s coastal and tourism areas, has been missing payments from Akon.

Akon City In Uganda

Even though construction on the first Akon City in Senegal hadn’t even started, Akon announced plans to build a second city in Uganda.

Yoweri Museveni, president of Uganda, allocated one square mile of land to the singer in 2021.

So far, preliminary work is yet to begin due to occupants resisting the move.

Uganda will hand the land to the developer after the occupants have been compensated but payments can only start from July 2025 because the government didn’t budget for them in the current financial year.

What They’re Saying

• “Akon City is a scandal,” Senegal lawmaker Bara Gaye told parliament in February 2023. “What is the government waiting for to end his contract?”

• Cheick Seck, a project manager with Dakar-based Axiome Construction, said that works in Mbodiene are moving ahead. “Akon City is happening,” Seck said. “We’re just waiting for instructions on how to proceed.”

• Geotechnical studies, clearing of brush, and an inventory of protected plant species on part of the land are underway, according to a statement shared by Akon’s Dakar-based partners said in late 2023.

• Akon is expected in Senegal’s capital in the coming weeks to reassure partners of the projects viability, his team said.

Source: Bloomberg

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