The once-ambitious project, touted to revolutionize African society, is now refocusing on pragmatic initiatives due to funding issues and stalled construction.
**Akon's Visionary City Project in Senegal Derailed: A Shift to Realism**
**Akon's Visionary City Project in Senegal Derailed: A Shift to Realism**
Plans for the $6 billion Akon City in Senegal have been abandoned as officials signal a transition to more achievable developments.
In a major development, Senegal's Akon City project, envisioned by the music star Akon, has officially been abandoned. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the head of the Senegalese tourism development body, Sapco, confirmed the news to the BBC, stating, "The Akon City project no longer exists." Instead, a new partnership will forge a more attainable venture with Akon, whose real name is Alioune Badara Thiam.
Initially announced in 2018, Akon City was designed to become a beacon of African innovation, estimated to cost around $6 billion, bolstered by a cryptocurrency known as Akoin. The project's grand architecture, often likened to the fictional city of Wakanda from the Marvel universe, promised futuristic facilities and substantial job creation. However, five years later, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène remains largely undeveloped, with only an unfinished reception building and empty land where roads and essential infrastructure were expected to be.
Local residents expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled promises, with one stating, "We were promised jobs and development. Instead, nothing has changed." Compounding the issues, the Akoin cryptocurrency has faced significant management challenges, with Akon acknowledging, "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that." Legal hurdles also arose, as the implementation of Akoin as a primary payment method at Akon City clashed with the existing CFA franc regulations.
Originally, the project aimed to create a self-sustaining, eco-friendly city powered entirely by renewable energy, with plans for hospitals, schools, and police stations to be completed by the end of 2023. Despite Akon’s optimistic declarations in a 2022 interview that the project was “100,000% moving,” construction did not progress as anticipated.
Acknowledging the project's stagnation, Senegalese officials cited funding shortfalls and construction hindrances as the main reasons for its cessation. However, the government hinted at a new, more realistic project in collaboration with Akon for the same high-value land near Mbodiène, especially in light of the impending 2026 Youth Olympic Games and a surge in tourism.
As both parties transition to this updated development strategy, the lessons from the Akon City initiative will shape future projects, emphasizing the importance of pragmatism in ambitious undertakings.
Initially announced in 2018, Akon City was designed to become a beacon of African innovation, estimated to cost around $6 billion, bolstered by a cryptocurrency known as Akoin. The project's grand architecture, often likened to the fictional city of Wakanda from the Marvel universe, promised futuristic facilities and substantial job creation. However, five years later, the 800-hectare site in Mbodiène remains largely undeveloped, with only an unfinished reception building and empty land where roads and essential infrastructure were expected to be.
Local residents expressed disappointment over the unfulfilled promises, with one stating, "We were promised jobs and development. Instead, nothing has changed." Compounding the issues, the Akoin cryptocurrency has faced significant management challenges, with Akon acknowledging, "It wasn't being managed properly - I take full responsibility for that." Legal hurdles also arose, as the implementation of Akoin as a primary payment method at Akon City clashed with the existing CFA franc regulations.
Originally, the project aimed to create a self-sustaining, eco-friendly city powered entirely by renewable energy, with plans for hospitals, schools, and police stations to be completed by the end of 2023. Despite Akon’s optimistic declarations in a 2022 interview that the project was “100,000% moving,” construction did not progress as anticipated.
Acknowledging the project's stagnation, Senegalese officials cited funding shortfalls and construction hindrances as the main reasons for its cessation. However, the government hinted at a new, more realistic project in collaboration with Akon for the same high-value land near Mbodiène, especially in light of the impending 2026 Youth Olympic Games and a surge in tourism.
As both parties transition to this updated development strategy, the lessons from the Akon City initiative will shape future projects, emphasizing the importance of pragmatism in ambitious undertakings.
