Senegal’s government has officially pulled the plug on Akon’s ambitious $6 billion “Akon City” project after years of stalled development, unfulfilled promises, and unpaid dues by the Senegalese-American singer and entrepreneur. The project, once hailed as a futuristic smart city inspired by Marvel’s Wakanda, has been abandoned after failing to break ground nearly five years after its grand unveiling.
Initially announced in 2020 with massive international buzz, Akon City was to rise along Senegal’s Atlantic coast in the village of Mbodiène. The visionary plan promised a state-of-the-art city powered by renewable energy, blockchain technology, and Akon’s own cryptocurrency, Akoin. The city was expected to include luxury housing, advanced healthcare facilities, a tech hub, and even an airport. But fast forward to 2025, and the only visible structures are a modest youth center, a basketball court, and an information kiosk.
According to Bloomberg, the Senegalese government has now reclaimed the bulk of the 136-acre site originally allocated for the megaproject. Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Sapco-Senegal, the agency responsible for tourism and coastal development, confirmed in an interview with L’Agence de presse sénégalaise that “the project no longer exists.” He added that Akon’s failure to meet financial and development benchmarks over the years prompted the government’s decision.
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In its place, Senegal is now planning a more feasible, scaled-down tourism initiative in the same area, backed by private investors with a projected investment of 665 billion CFA francs, or roughly $1.2 billion. The government hopes this revised project will attract real investment and create up to 15,000 jobs during its initial phase, offering fresh economic prospects for residents of Mbodiène and surrounding communities.
Akon, whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, will retain just eight hectares of land from the original site. Those acres will now be integrated into the new master plan for the region. While he has not issued a formal response, the dramatic downsizing marks a major blow to his long-touted plans to lead African urban development through innovation and celebrity-backed funding.
Originally marketed as a beacon for pan-African progress, Akon City promised to deliver not just architectural marvels but a self-sustaining ecosystem built around futuristic ideals. The city’s first phase, which was supposed to include a hospital and essential infrastructure, was expected to be completed by 2023. However, no major construction ever materialized, leading to growing skepticism and frustration from locals and observers.
