Akon City, also referred to as the “real-life Wakanda,” will begin construction in early 2021, said the popular singer, producer, and mastermind behind the project – Akon. He even hinted plans of franchising the concept in other nations in Africa.
Akon City Construction Starts In Several Months
Initially announced in mid-2018, Akon City gained mass attention because of its revolutionary idea to be a smart city running entirely on renewable energy and powered by Akon’s own cryptocurrency – Akoin.
Although project critics quickly dismantled the idea claiming that the celebrity is just attempting to draw attention to himself, the futuristic city started to materialize when KE International secured a contract for $6 billion to build the project. The US-based firm noted at the time that the two phases should be completed by 2029.
The construction start date remained undisclosed until recently. According to a report by the Global Herald, Akon himself announced that the initial development stages will begin early next year.
The Senegalese-American R&B singer doubled down on his “real-life Wakanda” city description as he hoped it would serve as a “home back home” option for Africans living outside the continent. Akon also noted that the project could provide much-needed jobs for locals and attract many tourists upon completion.
“The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way. So if you are coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.” – Akon added.
Akon City Features And Possible Franchise?
Some of the surrealist designs for Akon City were inspired by traditional African architecture but will most probably be made of metal and glass. A planned hotel within the city will feature rooms decorated for each of the 54 countries in Africa.
However, Akon said that he still doesn’t know what part of the construction materials will be from local sources. Additionally, he couldn’t find a suitable architect in Africa fast enough, so he had to employ the services of a Dubai-based one.
Some of the revealed features of Akon City include a seaside resort, a tech hub, recording studios, and even a zone called “Senewood,” which could boost the country’s film industry.
Without disclosing further details, Akon hinted that if Akon City succeeds, he could franchise the concept to other African countries.
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