Senegal’s government has officially reclaimed the 800-acre site allocated for Akon City, a $6 billion futuristic smart city proposed by US-Senegalese singer Akon. Initially announced in 2018, the project was envisioned as a tech-driven utopia with curving skyscrapers, renewable energy, and its own cryptocurrency, Akoin — drawing comparisons to the fictional Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther. However, seven years later, the land near Mbodiene remains largely undeveloped, with only one incomplete reception building. According to the BBC, Senegalese authorities have decided to repurpose the site for more “realistic” development after continued delays, financial shortfalls, and mounting skepticism.
The project, which Akon claimed would feature a hospital, school, shopping mall, and police station, has also faced legal and logistical setbacks. Efforts to fund the city through cryptocurrency and international investors have largely stalled. Akon has faced similar challenges in Uganda, where a separate city project was launched in 2021. That venture has also faced opposition, as some 10,000 residents living on the allocated 645 acres of land resisted eviction, citing lack of consultation.
The Senegalese-born artist, whose full name is Alioune Badara Thiam, said the project was intended to boost economic development in Africa and serve as a model for innovation and self-reliance on the continent.
