Akon’s $6 Billion ‘Wakanda-Inspired’ city in Africa reportedly abandoned

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Reports indicate that the ambitious project, Akon City – a futuristic $6 billion development dreamt up by artist Akon in Senegal, has allegedly been shelved by Senegalese officials following years of postponement and slow advancement.

Akon, an American-born son of Senegalese parents, is a well-known musician, composer, and businessman. He spent part of his youth in Senegal and has been actively involved in charitable works and commercial endeavors throughout Africa, such as renewable energy initiatives and the introduction of his digital currency.

According to Serigne Mamadou Mboup, the leader of Senegal’s tourism organization Sapco, the Akon City project has been officially cancelled. This ambitious initiative, initially unveiled in 2018, aimed to construct a technologically advanced and eco-friendly city that would run on renewable energy and utilize Akon’s digital currency, Akoin.

Akon’s $6 billion futuristic “Wakanda” mega-city in Senegal, Africa, has reportedly been abandoned

— TopMob (@TopMob) July 10, 2025

Project Halted After Missed Milestones

The innovative designs of Akon City sparked global interest, with many likening it to the fictional city of Wakanda from Marvel’s Black Panther. A launch event in 2020 signaled the start of construction, but by mid-2024, only an unfinished welcome center had been built on the site.

In the community, there’s been expressed frustration because the region hasn’t seen much progress, even though earlier commitments suggested job opportunities and an uptick in the economy would materialize.

One potential rephrasing could be: “The key issue we faced with our project was its dependence on Akoin, a cryptocurrency that faced difficulties in the market and wasn’t accepted by Senegalese authorities as a legitimate currency. The Central Bank of West African States, which controls Senegal, has expressed reservations about using digital currencies.

As a devoted follower, I tried my best to rally support for the $6 billion funding goal, but unfortunately, we fell short. Consequently, these missed payments triggered a stern demand from Sapco for progress on the site. Eventually, authorities and Akon decided to abandon the initial ambitious project in favor of a more feasible, scaled-down plan.

Akon publicly stated: “It wasn’t being managed properly—I take full responsibility for that.”

Officials from Senegal have announced that they will collaborate with Akon on future developments at the site, following a new strategy. The area is still earmarked for possible projects, and it’s anticipated that these plans will align with Senegal’s preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, guiding the development process accordingly.

In the year 2024, Akon became popular on TikTok through the “Beautiful Day” challenge, where participants had a chance to have a video chat with the artist directly if they took part in it.

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2025-07-10 16:48