Akon City is the real estate project launched by the star Aliaune Thiam , known as Akon . His exceptional musical career and extraordinary voice have earned him a place in the legend of urban music . First announced in 2018 by the singer, Akon City was presented as a futuristic city initially planned for Mbodiene, Senegal . But since then, much has changed. As a result, it now seems highly unlikely that the project will ever be completed. In this article, we will trace the history of Akon City, from its announcement to recent developments in 2024.
Akon City: The beginnings of a large-scale project
Inspired by Marvel's "Black Panther" and its Wakanda , Akon envisioned a futuristic city in his native Senegal. The project was highly ambitious at the time: Akon City was intended to be a major economic hub for Senegal and Africa in general, boasting a pioneering economic model. In fact, the singer had created his own cryptocurrency , Akoin , which was to be the currency of Akon City.
Located in Mbodiene, about 100 kilometers from Dakar , the real estate project is planned to cover more than 800 hectares of land . It is intended to house 300,000 residents. Furthermore, numerous foreign investors (from America, Europe, and Asia) have expressed interest in financing Akon City. The new smart city initially planned to include a business district, a medical center, and various services for residents (education, all types of shops, cultural facilities, etc.). Finally, the American singer also intends for Akon City to be built with high-quality, environmentally friendly , making it as ecologically sustainable as possible.
Two distinct phases are planned for the city:
- Phase 1 : Construction of roads, various hospital campuses, residential areas, shops, police stations, hotels, and the photovoltaic solar center. Completion of this work was initially planned for 2023.
- Phase 2 : Akon City was initially scheduled to be fully delivered between 2024 and 2029.
The total cost of the project is $6 billion!
There is a lot of hope in this project.
Akon City project generated great hope from its very inception. For Senegal, this project represents a significant driver of economic development . Indeed, given its geographical location (on the Petite Côte ), Akon City has considerable assets to offer in terms of tourism, with its numerous hotels , shops . The potential tax revenue could generate substantial income for the state.
Furthermore, from an economic and social perspective, the city can help provide employment for many unemployed young Senegalese development . The goal is to retain young people tempted to emigrate to other countries by offering them a more secure future and jobs in this new city.
The project also has a major advantage: it will help alleviate congestion in Dakar. Indeed, the Senegalese capital has experienced exponential population growth housing supply is still unable to keep pace, and the city is gradually becoming suffocated. Akon City , with its large capacity, can absorb a portion of Dakar's population.
Finally, from the perspective of Senegal's image, the project aims to showcase the land of Teranga to the world. Conceived as the first city of the future in Africa, Akon City represents the cornerstone of African development.
The first stone and the first questions
In September 2020, Akon traveled to Mbodiene to lay the foundation stone for his ambitious project. This was followed by a press conference before a crowd of journalists. The artist spoke of his ambition for his city to become "the gateway to Africa."
“ One of my biggest motivations is that when I’m in the United States, I meet a lot of African Americans who don’t really understand their culture. So I wanted to build a city or a project like this to give them the motivation to come and see where they come from.” Akon .
During the same press conference (where he was accompanied by the Minister of Tourism Alioune Sarr ), the artist confirmed that the work should begin during the first quarter of 2021.
Two years have passed, and it's clear that very little has changed. Naturally, questions quickly arose. A project of this scale at a standstill cannot go unnoticed.
A project not approved by everyone
Akon City raised a lot of hope for many Senegalese. However, it cannot be said that he won everyone over.
The first criticisms focused on the city's architectural style from African sculptures, Senegalese flora and fauna, and the design of local houses, " while updating them for a more contemporary feel. Some argued that this style was unsuitable for a segment of the population and implicitly suggested that Akon City was reserved for an elite.
Some also question the project's legitimacy given the local situation. Many see it as yet another sign of the country's uneven development , leaving a large part of the population behind. In a country where nearly 40% of the inhabitants live below the poverty line, it's true that such a project might leave us with some doubts.
Finally, the sum allocated for this project has raised a few eyebrows and prompted questions about its usefulness. Large glass towers, luxurious cinemas, architecture made of curves… Does all this really belong in Mbodiene? “We would like the area to be lit , to have water , to have roads , to have sanitation , whereas in the village it is darkness,” declared the deputy mayor.
Doubts about the allocation of the land
As mentioned earlier, Akon City was initially planned to cover over 800 hectares. Questions quickly arose regarding the allocation of the land. Observers and journalists suggested that the plot might have been given to the singer.
This question also concerns the very nature of land ownership. Does it fall under the national domain? Or is it governed by a land title?
Some newspapers (both Senegalese and foreign) are not hesitating to speak of " land grabbing ." Indeed, the artist is allegedly not respecting his commitments to the Senegalese state. The contract between the two parties stipulated that the land must be developed within a year of its allocation. There is growing concern about the lack of response from public authorities regarding a formal notice.
Akon City: Where are we in 2024?
In January 2023 , the artist broke his silence in an interview with the BBC . Initially, the end of 2023 was supposed to be the deadline for the first phase of construction on the project , with the inauguration of roads, a campus, a school, a police station, and a waste treatment center . However, there is currently no sign of any construction work beginning.
The artist attributes the delay to a global situation . First and foremost, COVID-19, which significantly hampered the project's progress. While Akon remains adamant, asserting that he is "10,000% focused on Akon City," he admits to regretting having promoted the city before construction began. Furthermore, the Senegalese government's tourism office ( SAPCO ) continues to fully support the project.
“We believe in Akon City and we all support Akon in bringing Akon City to life. It will attract tourists and investors to the region, and SAPCO is fully committed to the success of this project.” – Aliou Sow, CEO of SAPCO
Another obstacle is also hindering the success of Akon's ambitious project: the mismanagement of his cryptocurrency . Indeed, at its launch, the value of Akoin hovered around 170 CFA francs. After the general crypto crash of 2022, its value has plummeted to a mere 7 CFA francs. Akoin donors are still awaiting the reimbursements initially promised.
"I will pay them back. Even if I have to pay out of my own pocket. I'm very serious. I would travel the world just to pay them all back." Akon.
In December 2024, the Director General of the Société d'aménagement et de promotion des côtes et zones touristiques du Sénégal ( Sapco ), Souleymane Ndiaye, in an interview with TV5 Monde, gave an ultimatum to Alioune Badara Thiam, known as Akon, and his famous "Akon City" project.
“If Akon hasn’t come up with something concrete in two months, Sapco will be obliged to do what the law requires. Concrete, that is to say, start the implementation of its infrastructure projects, the reception facilities,” said Souleymane Ndiaye, Director General of Sapco.
So, what should we think of Akon City?
From its inception to the present day, Akon City leaves behind a great many unanswered questions. First and foremost, serious doubts have arisen regarding the project's credibility . Indeed, while the desire to create a highly innovative and modern city is commendable, we can question whether this represents an absolute priority for the region.
"We would like the area to finally have electricity, water, roads, and sanitation. Because currently, the whole village is in total darkness." Deputy Mayor of Mbodiène.
This creates a discrepancy with the billions of dollars allocated to Akon City.
The singer's city also raises questions about the vision of Africa held by some Afro-descendant figures, particularly Americans. Akon City seems like yet another example of what appears to be an irreversible disconnect between two continents. We recall Kendrick Lamar's visit to Ghana to promote his album. This event left many people quite disturbed by the artist's behavior. One local influencer even accused him of "using Africa as a fetishized land, in order to give an aesthetic framework to their inner turmoil."
In conclusion, Akon City leaves us with many questions. Nearly three years later, hopes have given way to doubt. The radio silence imposed by the artist since his arrival in 2020 leaves us very doubtful about the project's progress. The foundation laid in 2020 has now faded into the grass of Mbodiene. This inevitably brings to mind "Diamniadio Lake City" and its artificial lake…
If you, like Akon, have extravagant projects, here's a list of land for sale in Senegal . But if you're making grand pronouncements, try to stick to them; it'll generate less controversy.
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