In
2018, global music icon Akon made headlines with a bold dream to build a $6
billion futuristic city in Senegal that looked straight out of a Marvel movie.
Inspired by Black Pantherโs Wakanda, Akon City promised to be a beacon of
innovation, African pride, and high-tech living.
Fast
forward to July 2025: that dream has officially been abandoned.
A Dream Built on Hope, and Hype
When
Akon first unveiled the idea, it captured the imagination of millions.
He
spoke of a smart, eco-friendly city powered by renewable energy, running on his
own cryptocurrency, Akoin. The project, to be built on 2,000 acres in Mbodiรจne,
was set to create jobs, attract tourists, and bring economic growth to Senegal.
 |
| Akon's Megacity in Vision |
The
sleek designs showed curvaceous skyscrapers, clean energy grids, and futuristic
public spaces. Many dubbed it โAfricaโs
Wakandaโ โ a real-life version of the tech-savvy kingdom from Black
Panther.
But
the reality on the ground told a different story.
Years of Delays, No Real Progress
By
mid-2024, the only visible structure on the massive site was a half-built
reception hall.
 |
| The only visible building on the site |
No
housing.
No
roads.
No
tech infrastructure.
Instead
of high-speed trains and luxury hotels, goats grazed on the land.
Locals
who had hoped for employment and development were left confused and
disappointed. The dream had stalled, and few believed it was ever coming back.
What Went Wrong?
Several
issues ultimately led to the project's downfall:
โ 1. Akoin Didnโt Work Out
Akon
planned for the cityโs economy to run entirely on his cryptocurrency, Akoin.
But it never gained traction. Senegal already uses the CFA franc as its
official currency, and legally, no other currency can replace it. This clashed
with the cityโs financial model.
โ 2. Funding Problems
Despite
the $6 billion headline, there was never clear information about where the
money was coming from. Investors hesitated, and deadlines were missed.
โ 3. Poor Project
Management
Even
Akon himself admitted that things werenโt handled properly. In 2025, he told
reporters he takes โfull responsibilityโ
for the delays and mismanagement.
Senegalese Authorities Finally Pull the Plug
In
July 2025, Senegalโs tourism and infrastructure authority (SAPCO), led by
Serigne Mamadou Mboup, officially announced the end of the Akon City project.
The
site will now be repurposed for a more realistic plan: a $1.2 billion resort
development focused on tourism and local business. Akon will retain a smaller
role, managing just 19 acres of the land.
It's
a significant downgrade โ both in terms of size and ambition.
Locals Left Behind
For
people in Mbodiรจne and nearby communities, the news hit hard. They were
promised jobs, development, and a chance to be part of something historic.
Instead,
they got years of empty promises and a dusty field of broken dreams.
One
resident reportedly said:
โAll we ever saw were camera crews and
government cars. Nothing for the people.โ
The Takeaway: Vision Alone Isnโt Enough
Akonโs
dream for a futuristic African city wasnโt a bad one. It was beautiful. But as
this story shows, vision without proper execution is just fantasy.
You
need realistic funding.
You
need strong partners.
You
need to understand local laws and economies.
And
most of all, you need to deliver โ not just inspire.
Letโ Me rest my case
Akon
City may have failed, but it sparked a conversation that still matters:
Can
Africa build cities of the future on its own terms?
The
answer is still yes โ but itโll take more than celebrity, buzzwords, and bold
press conferences.
Itโll
take planning. Patience. And a deep respect for the people on the ground.
๐ฃ What Do You Think?
Did
Akon dream too big โ or was he simply too early?
Should
other African entrepreneurs try to build similar projects?
๐ Share
your thoughts in the comments.