Senegalese authorities have issued a final notice to singer Akon regarding his $6 billion Akon City project, threatening to reclaim 90% of the allocated land if significant progress is not made soon, according to Bloomberg.
A Wakanda-Inspired Metropolis
In 2020, the Senegalese government granted Akon 136 acres of land on the Atlantic Coast to build Akon City, a $6 billion project intended to be a high-tech, eco-friendly metropolis.
Inspired by the fictional country of Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther, Akon City was envisioned to feature condominiums, amusement parks, a seaside resort, and infrastructure running on solar power and Akoin cryptocurrency.
The project was expected to bring modern amenities and economic opportunities to the region, including hospitals, a university, and a police station.
Delays and Growing Frustration
Despite the grand vision, the site remains largely undeveloped and is seen as a grazing ground for livestock, with no significant construction underway.
Bakri & Associates Development Consultants/TheMegaAgency/Akon City
Sapco-Senegal, the state-owned entity responsible for developing the country’s coastal and tourism areas, has expressed growing impatience.
General Manager Serigne Mboup confirmed that Akon received a formal notice to commence work or face losing 90% of the land granted for the project.
Akon’s team has not commented on the notice, and a member of his staff claimed no awareness of it. This comes after reports that Akon missed several payments to Sapco, further stalling the project’s progress.
Cheick Seck, a project manager with Dakar-based Axiome Construction, insists that preliminary work is underway, including geotechnical studies and brush clearing.
“Akon City is happening,” Seck said according to Bloomberg. “We’re just waiting for instructions on how to proceed.”
However, with the government’s ultimatum looming, the future of Akon City remains uncertain.
Akon is expected to visit Dakar soon to address concerns and reassure stakeholders of the project’s viability.
Feature Image Credit: MTV/Getty
