In a field south of Dakar, Senegal, a solitary arched concrete block stands as a lone sentinel to what was once a grand vision. Four years ago, R&B singer Akon laid the cornerstone for Akon City, a $6 billion project that promised to transform the Senegalese landscape into a real-life Wakanda, inspired by the fictional marvel from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther.
Back in 2020, the West African nation granted Akon 136 acres along its Atlantic coast to bring this ambitious project to life. The plan was nothing short of extraordinary: luxury condominiums, amusement parks, a seaside resort with gravity-defying skyscrapers, all powered by solar energy and fueled by Akoin, a cryptocurrency introduced by the artist himself. The city was envisioned to house cutting-edge hospitals, a police station, and a university.
But today, the site remains an empty expanse where goats and cows graze, and the promise of a futuristic metropolis seems distant. Senegalese authorities are losing patience. Sapco-Senegal, the state entity responsible for coastal and tourism development, has formally notified Akon to either commence construction or risk losing 90% of the land. This ultimatum comes after Akon missed several payments to Sapco, although a spokesperson for Akon declined to comment on the matter, and a staff member was unaware of any such notice.
The grandeur of Akon City was set to be more than just a residential and commercial hub; it aimed to inject new life into a rural area, creating jobs and boosting local economies. “Akon City would bring employment for our youth,” said Michel Diome, the village chief of Mbodiene. “We would finally have a hospital and even a university.”
Despite these high hopes, progress has been slow. While Akon has financed a youth center, a basketball court, and an information center in Mbodiene, the grand structures depicted in his 2020 presentations remain unbuilt. The first phase of construction, which included the hospital and condos, was supposed to be completed by 2023. However, delays, exacerbated by the pandemic, have pushed this ambitious deadline further into the future.
Adding to the complexity, Akon has announced plans for a second city in Uganda, where preliminary work is stalled due to local resistance and budgeting issues. The Ugandan government has yet to compensate existing land occupants, delaying the project even further.
In Senegal, the skepticism is growing. Lawmaker Bara Gaye has criticized the project as a “scandal,” questioning why the government has not terminated the contract. Yet, some remain hopeful. Cheick Seck, a project manager with Axiome Construction in Dakar, insists that “Akon City is happening,” and ongoing work includes geotechnical studies and environmental assessments.
As Akon is expected to visit Senegal soon to address concerns and reassure partners, the future of Akon City remains uncertain. While initial excitement and optimism surrounded the project’s potential, locals like Chief Diome are left waiting for the promised transformation.
The vision of Akon City was to be a beacon of progress and innovation. Whether it can still fulfill that promise or become a cautionary tale of grand ambitions and unfulfilled dreams remains to be seen. For now, the future of this futuristic metropolis hangs in the balance, with residents and investors alike hoping that the dream can still be realized.