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BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Akon's futuristic $6bn city project in Senegal abandoned, BBC told
10 Design Architecture Plans for a futuristic city in Senegal dreamt up by the singer Akon have been scrapped and instead he will work on something more realistic, officials say. "The Akon City project no longer exists," Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC. "Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he's preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support." Known for his string of noughties chart hits, Akon - who was born in the US but partly raised in Senegal - announced two ambitious projects in 2018 that were supposed to represent the future of African society. The first was Akon City - reportedly costed at $6bn (£5bn). It was to run on the second initiative - a brand new cryptocurrency called Akoin. Initial designs for Akon City, with its boldly curvaceous skyscrapers, were compared by commentators to the awe-inspiring fictional city of Wakanda in Marvel's Black Panther films and comic books. But after five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène - about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar - remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid. "We were promised jobs and development," one local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed." Meanwhile the star's Akoin cryptocurrency has struggled to repay its investors over the years, with Akon himself conceding: "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that." There had also been questions over whether it would even be legal for Akoin to operate as the primary payment method for would-be residents of Akon City. Senegal uses the CFA franc, which is regulated and issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), and like many central banks has expressed opposition to cryptocurrency. The plans for Akon City had been sweeping. 10 Design Architecture Phase one alone was to include a hospital, a shopping mall, a school, a police station, a waste centre, and a solar plant - all by the end of 2023. Sitting on Senegal's Atlantic Coast, Akon's high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable energy. But despite Akon's insistence in a 2022 BBC interview that the project was "100,000% moving", no significant construction followed the initial launch ceremony. Now the Senegalese government has confirmed what many suspected - the project had stalled beyond recovery. Officials cited a lack of funding and halted construction efforts as key reasons for the decision. Although Akon City as it was originally imagined has been shelved, the government says it is now working with Akon on a more "realistic" development project for the same site. The land near Mbodiène remains of high strategic value, especially with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching and increased tourism activity expected. You may also be interested in: Akon's Wakanda, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dream Born in France but searching for a future in Africa US basketball training for Senegal cancelled after visas rejected Senegal starts producing oil as president promises benefits Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Senegal Africa United States
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Singer Akon's plans for $6,000,000,000 futuristic 'Wakanda' city ditched
Singer Akon's plans for a $6 billion city in Senegal have been abandoned in favour of something more 'realistic'. Dubbed Akon City, the city would be a high-tech, eco-friendly 'home back home' for African-Americans and other black communities around the world and have its own crypto currency called Akoin. Early designs showed futuristic buildings, including curvaceous skyscrapers, with several people comparing the city to the fictional Wakanda in Marvel's Black Panther films and comics. The Locked up singer, who had a string of hits in the noughties, announced the plans in 2018 and in 2020 said he'd secured funding and had officially bought the land. However, Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, has now told the BBC: 'The Akon City project no longer exists.' He added: 'Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he's preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support.' In 2020 Akon said construction had started, but all that has been built on the 800-hectare site is a reception building, which is only half finished. There are no roads, housing or a power grid. Plans for phase one – that were due to be completed by the end of 2023 – included a hospital, shopping mall, school, police station, a waste centre and a solar plant. The city, 60 miles south of Senegal's capital, Dakar was to be powered solely by renewable energy. Officials reportedly blamed funding, legal and construction issues for the the project's demise. More Trending The value of Akon's cryptocurrency, Akoin, designed to power the economy of the city, also plummeted in value. The singer has previously conceded that it 'wasn't being managed properly', adding 'I take full responsibility for that'. As the country prepares for the arrival of next year's Youth Olympic Games, there are now plans for a more modest development on the Akon City site, which sits along the West African country's coastline. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: A surprising UK building has just been named one of the world's most beautiful MORE: The dystopian megacity bigger than Scotland where 2,600,000 cameras are always watching
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Wakanda Not Forever: Plans For Futuristic African City Fall Apart
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Plans for a $6 billion futuristic city in Senegal, envisioned by U.S.-born singer Akon and inspired by the fictional Wakanda of Marvel's Black Panther, have been formally abandoned by Senegalese authorities following years of setbacks and failed construction milestones. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of the Senegalese tourism authority Sapco, stated, "The Akon City project no longer exists," confirming that the ambitious urban development will be replaced by a more modest initiative in partnership with Akon. Why It Matters The cancellation of Akon City marks the collapse of one of the most high-profile pan-African development fantasies in a generation and highlights the risks associated with celebrity-driven megaprojects and unproven financial models such as cryptocurrency. Akon, who spent part of his childhood in Senegal, had promoted the city as Africa's answer to Wakanda and a launchpad for his Akoin cryptocurrency. What To Know Akon announced plans for the city in 2018, billing it as a high-tech, eco-friendly metropolis to be powered by solar energy and Akoin, his newly created cryptocurrency. The designs, marked by futuristic skyscrapers and pan-African symbolism, drew direct comparisons to Black Panther's Wakanda, with some media coverage positioning the city as inspired by Wakanda. Initial work was marked by a high-profile launch ceremony in 2020, where Akon, Sapco officials, and local dignitaries unveiled a commemorative plaque on a bare stretch of land. However, by mid-2024, the only structure on site was an unfinished reception hall. "We're still waiting," local leaders said, expressing the frustration of local communities who had expected jobs and rapid economic transformation. Residents described empty fields grazed by goats rather than new buildings or vibrant city life. A rendering of Akon city, designed to be a top tourism destination in Senegal. A rendering of Akon city, designed to be a top tourism destination in Senegal. 10 Design Architecture Akon City's reliance on Akoin as its payment backbone became a key vulnerability. The cryptocurrency performed poorly in the market, dropping to as low as $0.003, and skeptical regulators in Senegal questioned its legality. The CFA franc remains the only recognized legal tender in Senegal, with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) expressing reservations about cryptocurrency-based economies. Akon reportedly struggled to secure the $6 billion necessary, with several payments to national partners missed. An ultimatum from Sapco set tight deadlines for Akon to demonstrate progress or face the loss of the majority of his development land. In their latest statement, Sapco confirmed a mutual agreement to shift toward a more realistic, "fully supported" project. Akon publicly acknowledged that "It wasn't being managed properly—I take full responsibility for that." Officials indicated they would collaborate with Akon on a scaled-down plan more likely to achieve completion. What People Are Saying Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Sapco, told BBC News: "The Akon City project no longer exists." Akon said: "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that." What Happens Next The Senegalese authorities announced that development on the site would continue but with a revised and more modest plan involving Akon. The strategic Atlantic coastal land remains earmarked for potential new projects, which may gain urgency as the nation prepares for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and seeks to boost tourism.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Akon's futuristic $6bn city project in Senegal abandoned, BBC told
Plans for a futuristic city in Senegal dreamt up by the singer Akon have been scrapped and instead he will work on something more realistic, officials say. "The Akon City project no longer exists," Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC. "Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he's preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support." Known for his string of noughties chart hits, Akon - who was born in the US but partly raised in Senegal - announced two ambitious projects in 2018 that were supposed to represent the future of African society. The first was Akon City - reportedly costed at $6bn (£5bn). It was to run on the second initiative - a brand new cryptocurrency called Akoin. Initial designs for Akon City, with its boldly curvaceous skyscrapers, were compared by commentators to the awe-inspiring fictional city of Wakanda in Marvel's Black Panther films and comic books. But after five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène - about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar - remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid. "We were promised jobs and development," one local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed." Meanwhile the star's Akoin cryptocurrency has struggle to repay its investors over the years, with Akon himself conceding: "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that." There had also been questions over whether it would even be legal for Akoin to operate as the primary payment method at Akon City. Senegal uses the CFA franc, which is regulated and issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), and like many central banks has expressed opposition to cryptocurrency. The plans for Akon City had been sweeping. Phase one alone was to include a hospital, a shopping mall, a school, a police station, a waste centre, and a solar plant - all by the end of 2023. Sitting on Senegal's Atlantic Coast, Akon's high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable energy. But despite Akon's insistence in a 2022 BBC interview that the project was "100,000% moving", no significant construction followed the initial launch ceremony. Now the Senegalese government has confirmed what many suspected - the project had stalled beyond recovery. Officials cited a lack of funding and halted construction efforts as key reasons for the decision. Although Akon City as it was originally imagined has been shelved, the government says it is now working with Akon on a more "realistic" development project for the same site. The land near Mbodiène remains of high strategic value, especially with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching and increased tourism activity expected. Akon's Wakanda, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dream Born in France but searching for a future in Africa US basketball training for Senegal cancelled after visas rejected Senegal starts producing oil as president promises benefits Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Akon City: Wakanda-style $6bn project abandoned by Senegal
Plans for a futuristic city in Senegal dreamt up by the singer Akon have been scrapped and instead he will work on something more realistic, officials say."The Akon City project no longer exists," Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of Senegal's tourism development body, Sapco, told the BBC."Fortunately, an agreement has been reached between Sapco and the entrepreneur Alioune Badara Thiam [aka Akon]. What he's preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support."Known for his string of noughties chart hits, Akon - who was born in the US but partly raised in Senegal - announced two ambitious projects in 2018 that were supposed to represent the future of African society. The first was Akon City - reportedly costed at $6bn (£5bn). It was to run on the second initiative - a brand new cryptocurrency called designs for Akon City, with its boldly curvaceous skyscrapers, were compared by commentators to the awe-inspiring fictional city of Wakanda in Marvel's Black Panther films and comic books. But after five years of setbacks, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène - about 100km (60 miles) south of the capital, Dakar - remains mostly empty. The only structure is an incomplete reception building. There are no roads, no housing, no power grid."We were promised jobs and development," one local resident told the BBC. "Instead, nothing has changed."Meanwhile the star's Akoin cryptocurrency has struggle to repay its investors over the years, with Akon himself conceding: "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that."There had also been questions over whether it would even be legal for Akoin to operate as the primary payment method at Akon City. Senegal uses the CFA franc, which is regulated and issued by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), and like many central banks has expressed opposition to plans for Akon City had been sweeping. Phase one alone was to include a hospital, a shopping mall, a school, a police station, a waste centre, and a solar plant - all by the end of 2023. Sitting on Senegal's Atlantic Coast, Akon's high-tech, eco-friendly city was supposed to run entirely on renewable despite Akon's insistence in a 2022 BBC interview that the project was "100,000% moving", no significant construction followed the initial launch the Senegalese government has confirmed what many suspected - the project had stalled beyond recovery. Officials cited a lack of funding and halted construction efforts as key reasons for the Akon City as it was originally imagined has been shelved, the government says it is now working with Akon on a more "realistic" development project for the same land near Mbodiène remains of high strategic value, especially with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching and increased tourism activity expected. You may also be interested in: Akon's Wakanda, grazing goats and a crumbling crypto dreamBorn in France but searching for a future in AfricaUS basketball training for Senegal cancelled after visas rejectedSenegal starts producing oil as president promises benefits Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
