In 2018, Akon unveiled plans to build a futuristic pan-African city in Senegal, his birthplace, which he described as a real-life version of Wakanda from Marvel’s “Black Panther.”
The project, known as Akon City, was set to feature the cryptocurrency AKoin.
Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus in 2020, Akon remained committed to the $6 billion project, announcing that construction would begin in 2021.
The city is intended to create local jobs and provide a “home back home” for Black Americans and the African diaspora facing racial discrimination.
By August 2020, Akon had secured one-third of the required funds but did not disclose the investors due to non-disclosure agreements. Although initially slated for completion by 2023, the project has encountered significant delays.
The Senegalese government, through its state-owned agency Sapco-Senegal, has issued an ultimatum for Akon to start substantial construction or risk losing most of the land allocated for the project.
According to Newsweek, the singer could lose up to 90 percent of the land if no major work is undertaken.
Akon’s team has reported that preliminary tasks, such as geotechnical studies and land clearing, are ongoing.
Project manager Cheick Seck of Axiome Construction states that they are waiting for further instructions before proceeding with major construction.
Akon is expected to visit Dakar soon to address concerns and reassure stakeholders about the project’s future, as reported by Bloomberg.
In addition to government pressure, Akon City faces legal challenges.
In 2021, former business partner Devyne Stephens sued Akon for $4 million, claiming unpaid settlement funds from 2018.
In March 2022, Stephens sought a court order to freeze Akon’s New York assets until the lawsuit was resolved, alleging that Akon City resembled fraudulent schemes.
Despite these allegations, Akon settled part of the lawsuit for $850,000 in April 2022. He attributed the delays to the pandemic and remains committed to a 10-year timeline for the project’s completion.
