Akon, the musician and entrepreneur with dual Senegalese and American heritage, made waves worldwide with his ambitious plan to establish a modern, $6 billion smart city in Senegal, where his ancestors are from. Presented as a technologically advanced paradise driven completely by sustainable energy and featuring its own digital currency, “Akon City” aimed to revolutionize the area by merging technological advancements with economic prospects. Despite the initial excitement, years after the project was unveiled, it seems to have faced significant delays, with reports suggesting the city remains mostly uninhabited.
In 2020, Akon introduced his vision, sparking both enthusiasm and doubt. Taking cues from films such as Black Panther, he envisioned a modern city featuring tall buildings, luxury accommodations, a technology center, and eco-friendly systems. The city’s economy was to be driven by Akoin, a digital currency aimed at boosting African economies. Akon portrayed this initiative as an opportunity to create employment, encourage development, and represent African advancement.
The intended spot for Akon City was a 2,000-acre area situated on the Atlantic seaboard, close to the Senegalese village of Mbodiène. According to reports, the Senegalese government contributed the land, perceiving the initiative as a chance to enhance tourism, attract investments, and promote growth. Akon stated he had obtained financial backing from private investors and anticipated that the initial stage of development—comprising infrastructure, residences, and a police department—would be finished by 2023.
However, as time passed, little physical progress became evident on the site. Journalists and local residents visiting the area have described the land as virtually untouched, with only a small sign marking the future site of the city. Reports indicate that no major construction has taken place, and many of the ambitious promises remain unfulfilled.
For those residing close to the planned project, the lack of advancement has led to skepticism and disappointment. Many had expected new employment prospects, infrastructure improvements, and advantages fueled by tourism. However, they remain in communities with restricted access to essential services, as the vision of Akon City appears to be becoming more unattainable.
The absence of noticeable progress has led to speculation about whether the project was ever financially feasible or overly ambitious from the start. Significant urban initiatives necessitate considerable, continuous funding and coordination—especially in areas where infrastructure remains under development. Certain analysts have highlighted the difficulties of initiating such a sophisticated city in a place lacking the essential groundwork.
Akon, for his part, has maintained in interviews that the project is still alive, citing delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic disruptions as key reasons for the slow pace. He has emphasized that building a city from scratch is a complex, multi-year undertaking that requires careful planning and resource allocation. Yet despite these reassurances, public trust in the project appears to have eroded as the promised progress remains unseen.
The broader idea behind Akon City—using blockchain technology, green energy, and futuristic design to empower African communities—resonated with many who hoped for transformative change on the continent. Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and young populations hungry for innovation. Akon’s vision aligned with a larger narrative of homegrown solutions and modern African success stories.
However, the actual implementation of these ambitious undertakings has turned out to be an entirely separate challenge. Akon City is not the initial major project on the continent to experience obstacles. Many proposed smart cities throughout Africa, including Kenya’s Konza Technopolis and Nigeria’s Eko Atlantic, have faced similar postponements, financial hurdles, or scaled-down plans compared to their original assurances.
The gap between visionary ideals and on-the-ground realities highlights the challenges of implementing megaprojects in emerging economies. Issues such as land ownership, financing, government partnerships, and regulatory hurdles can complicate even the most well-intentioned plans. Moreover, the sheer scale of building a futuristic city from the ground up presents logistical challenges that are difficult to overcome without substantial and consistent backing.
For many in Senegal, the story of Akon City is a cautionary tale about grand promises that fail to materialize. While the artist’s intention to give back to his homeland and contribute to Africa’s future development is widely acknowledged, the lack of tangible progress has left many disillusioned.
The situation has also prompted broader conversations about how development should occur in Africa. Critics argue that large-scale, top-down projects often divert attention from more immediate, community-based solutions that could have a more direct impact on people’s lives. Rather than focusing on high-profile, expensive cityscapes, some advocate for investments in education, healthcare, small businesses, and existing urban centers.
Akon’s high-profile involvement brought international attention to the idea of African-led innovation and the potential for economic growth on the continent. Regardless of whether Akon City ultimately comes to fruition, the discourse it sparked about Africa’s future, technology’s role, and the importance of infrastructure and investment remains significant.
As of now, the proposed site remains largely empty, and timelines for construction remain unclear. Supporters of the project still express hope that the dream can be revived, while skeptics point to it as another example of overpromising without the means to deliver.
The tale of Akon City acts as a mirror to the ambitions and challenges of progress in Africa. It highlights the necessity of aligning forward-thinking concepts with realistic implementation, ensuring that the communities potentially impacted by these ventures are not left in prolonged anticipation for transformations that might not occur.
While the fate of Akon’s futuristic city remains uncertain, its legacy may lie less in its physical construction and more in the conversations it sparked about how African nations can harness innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship to shape their own futures—on their own terms.
