During an appearance on Mouv Radio on March 4, artist Akon provided insights into Akon City, an innovative urban project he’s developing in his homeland, Senegal.
He outlined his ambitions for Africa and the challenges faced in bringing this bold vision to life.
Alioune Badara Thiam, better known as Akon was promoting his new single Beautiful Day. He shared key details about the ambitious initiative taking root in Senegal, his country of origin.
Akon emphasised that Akon City aims to set a precedent for Africa’s future—a continent he views as rich in resources and talent but historically underdeveloped.
“Africa has the best resources, the best people, yet it’s never been developed properly,” he explained.
Akon stressed that Akon City seeks to address this by delivering comprehensive development, drawing Western investment, and reshaping Africa’s global image, often marred by corruption and poor governance.
He admitted that publicising the project before its launch had sparked unrealistic expectations.
“The biggest mistake I made was promoting it before it even started,” he conceded, noting that building such an ambitious city demands immense time and resources.
Addressing hurdles, Akon highlighted political and logistical challenges, underscoring that cooperation from local authorities and stakeholders is critical to the project’s success. He however, remains upbeat about Akon City’s future, promising concrete updates as progress is made.
For Akon, Akon City is a lasting legacy he hopes to leave behind—for Senegal and the broader African continent.
AC/lb/as/APA