Senegal has officially pulled the plug on Akon’s highly publicized $6 billion plan to build a futuristic “Akon City” on its Atlantic coast, citing years of delays, inaction, and missed financial obligations. The announcement marks the end of a once-ambitious dream that aimed to turn the quiet village of Mbodiène into a tech-savvy, solar-powered utopia.
According to Bloomberg, the Senegalese-American singer first introduced the concept in 2020, describing it as a real-life version of Marvel’s Wakanda — a smart city powered by renewable energy and Akon’s proprietary cryptocurrency. The project captured international attention and promised major development, including high-tech infrastructure, a hospital, shopping districts, and a resort.
However, five years on, very little progress has been made. The Senegalese government has now reclaimed most of the 136 acres of land originally granted to Akon, following his failure to kick off construction or fulfill the necessary financial commitments.
“That project no longer exists,” said Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Sapco-Senegal — the national agency in charge of tourism and coastal development — in a statement to L’Agence de presse sénégalaise.
As reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, SAPCO will now move forward with a new, scaled-down tourism initiative in the same area. The revised plan will be state-backed and financed primarily by private investors, with a projected budget of 665 billion CFA francs (approximately $1.2 billion). Of the original land allotted to Akon, only 8 hectares will remain under his control, to be folded into the larger government-led project.
Despite the failure of Akon City to materialize, Senegalese officials remain optimistic about the new direction. The updated project is expected to generate as many as 15,000 jobs in its initial phase — a promising opportunity for the people of Mbodiène, who have seen little tangible benefit since the city was first announced.
To date, the only developments tied to Akon’s vision include a youth center, a basketball court, and an information kiosk — far from the smart city once promised. The initial phase, which was meant to include a hospital, had originally been scheduled for completion by 2023.
With the cancellation now official, Senegal is shifting gears — moving forward with a more realistic, homegrown effort to boost tourism and local employment in the region.