In 2020, global music icon Akon unveiled ambitious plans for a $6 billion futuristic city in Africa. This grand vision, dubbed Akon City, aimed to entice residents from around the globe, promising a real-world version of Wakanda with a focus on youth and technology. Over the past four years, Akon and his team have worked diligently towards its anticipated launch in 2024. However, the city’s progress has fallen short of expectations, marred by allegations of lies, corruption, and collusion. Initially hailed as a visionary, doubts now linger about Akon’s true intentions. So, what exactly went wrong with Akon’s vision? Was it really a scam all along?
The Collapse of Akon City
It is crucial to recognize the remarkable impact Akon has had across over a dozen African nations, which is an essential part of the story of Akon City. Following his success in the music industry, Akon sought to give back to Senegal, his homeland. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of living without electricity, he launched Akon Lighting Africa in 2014. This initiative aimed to provide solar energy to underserved communities, addressing issues like the lack of running water and power. In the first year alone, Akon’s project illuminated 14 African nations, transforming countless lives.
Despite his noble intentions, Akon had to implement borderline unethical strategies to persuade nations to invest in solar energy. His approach involved targeting nations with impending elections, offering to install solar systems for free in villages selected by their leaders. This initiative encompassed the installation of street lights and solar panels for residences and businesses, portraying these leaders as champions of progress and enhancing their appeal to voters. As the selected villages were illuminated, neighboring villages began to demand similar advancements from the government, prompting questions about why they remained in the dark.
While some criticize this approach, it ultimately benefits the communities the most. Solar electricity facilitates extended operating hours for vendors and enables children to study after sunset. Furthermore, the installation of street lights has led to a reduction in crime rates attributed to the enhanced visibility provided by solar-powered lighting. As of 2020, Akon Lighting Africa has achieved remarkable milestones, including the installation of 100,000 solar-powered street lamps, the establishment of 1,200 solar microgrids, and the creation of over 5,000 jobs across the continent.
Financing the Colossal Undertaking
Despite his success in the music industry, the Akon Lighting Africa project required substantial funding. China’s involvement in Africa dates back to the early 2000s but has significantly intensified over the past decade, with investments totaling $170 billion across 49 nations. While this investment holds promise for the development of African nations, skepticism exists regarding China’s intentions. Some speculate that behind their outward interest lies a hidden agenda, as these investments come with the obligation of repayment.
Africa’s total debt from 2000 to 2022 stands at a staggering $1.8 trillion, surpassing its GDP growth rate by 300%. This debt burden raises concerns about the continent’s ability to repay, potentially aligning with the interests of the Chinese government. Debt trap diplomacy involves the tactic of constructing costly infrastructure and assets in African nations with the expectation that these nations may struggle to repay the loans, potentially leading to China gaining control of the assets.
Akon City: Vision and Reality
Embarking on a promotional tour, Akon unveiled plans for Akon City, slated to occupy a 3-square-mile tract just 60 miles from Senegal’s capital, Dakar. Akon envisions this city as just phase one of a multi-phase plan. He also introduced Akoin, the city’s native cryptocurrency, designed to facilitate transactions across Africa’s 54 nations, fostering digital economic engagement via mobile devices.
However, the ambitious project has faced numerous challenges. Before launching the Akoin cryptocurrency, the Akoin website introduced a pre-sale opportunity known as the Token of Appreciation (TOA) campaign. This pre-sale functioned as a donation, with contributors promised four tokens for every $1 spent. Following its launch on major crypto exchanges in early 2021, Akoin peaked at around 58 cents, representing a 132% gain for TOA holders who chose to sell. However, many held on to their tokens, believing in Akoin’s potential. Within months, the price plummeted to around 10 cents per coin, resulting in a significant loss for TOA holders. Despite the downturn, Akoin admins offered refunds to initial donors, but they received nothing.
Current State of Akon City
Today, Akon City is an utter ghost town. In 2023, a viral image showed a solitary Minecraft concrete brick symbolizing the lack of progress, despite Akon’s promise of completion by 2024. However, there have been some developments since then. As of 2024, there is a single completed building, said to be a standard recreational center, and a partially constructed structure featuring a spiral staircase. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the land remains vacant, serving as grazing grounds for wild cattle. While construction has technically commenced, the reality falls far short of the futuristic mega-city promised by Akon.
Conclusion: Visionary Dream or Futuristic Mirage?
Statements like “I plan to retire in that city” and “I don’t like to use the word king of the city, but that’s what it will turn out to be” have led some to speculate that Akon City is merely an empire designed to inflate Akon’s ego or, worse, a corrupt scheme to siphon billions from Chinese investments while leaving African nations in financial ruin and vulnerable to Chinese influence.
While Akon could be perceived as a fraudulent figure with delusions of grandeur, exploiting Chinese funds to construct infrastructure beyond African nations’ means for personal gain, there is also the possibility that he genuinely aspires to create a futuristic utopia for Africans. However, the complexities of politics and economics have proven overwhelming. As it stands, the realization of Akon City seems distant, and some doubt it will ever materialize.
So, do you think Akon City is a scam, or did it just not work out as planned? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about the future of this ambitious project and its impact on Africa. Stay tuned for more updates as the story of Akon City continues to unfold.
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