Senegal’s visionary city project, initially proposed by global music star Akon, has been canceled, with plans shifting toward a more practical initiative, according to officials.
Serigne Mamadou Mboup, director of Senegal’s tourism development agency, Sapco, confirmed to the BBC that “the Akon City concept is no longer in development.” Instead, a new, realistic venture is underway in collaboration with Akon, whose real name is Alioune Badara Thiam.
The Senegalese-American artist, celebrated for his iconic 2000s hits, first unveiled the ambitious Akon City in 2018, envisioning it as a futuristic model for African urban development. Sapco has expressed full support for the revised, grounded project now taking shape.
Akon’s ambitious $6 billion (£5 billion) Akon City project in Senegal, envisioned as a futuristic metropolis powered by the artist’s Akoin cryptocurrency, has been abandoned after years of delays. The 800-hectare site in Mbodiène, located 100km (60 miles) south of Dakar, remains largely undeveloped, with only an unfinished reception building standing on the vast plot. No roads, housing, or power infrastructure have materialized.
Initially hailed as a real-world counterpart to the fictional Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther, Akon City’s striking, curvaceous skyscraper designs captured global attention. However, five years of setbacks have left locals disappointed. “We were promised jobs and progress, but nothing has changed,” one resident told the BBC.
The Akoin cryptocurrency, intended as the city’s primary currency, has also faced challenges. Akon admitted to mismanagement, stating, “I take full responsibility for that.” Legal concerns further complicated the project, as Senegal’s CFA franc, regulated by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), remains the official currency, with the bank opposing cryptocurrencies.
Despite the grand vision, Akon and Senegal’s tourism development agency, Sapco, are now pivoting to a more feasible project, signaling a shift from the original sweeping plans.
Phase one of Akon City, a $6 billion futuristic project on Senegal’s Atlantic Coast, promised a hospital, shopping mall, school, police station, waste center, and solar plant by the end of 2023, all powered by renewable energy. Envisioned as a high-tech, eco-friendly metropolis, the city was set to operate using Akon’s Akoin cryptocurrency. However, despite a 2022 BBC interview where Akon claimed the project was “100,000% moving,” no significant construction followed the initial launch ceremony.
The Senegalese government has now confirmed the project’s cancellation, citing insufficient funding and stalled construction. The 800-hectare site in Mbodiène, 100km south of Dakar, remains largely empty, with only an incomplete reception building. Local hopes for jobs and development have gone unfulfilled.
While the original Akon City vision has been abandoned, Senegal’s tourism development agency, Sapco, is collaborating with Akon on a more practical development for a different site. The Mbodiène land retains strategic importance, especially with the 2026 Youth Olympic Games approaching and anticipated tourism growth.
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