Celebrities really know how to diversify their interests. It’s no longer enough to bank on paychecks from just music or acting.
Creating an empire is what everyone seems to be about these days. And rapper and record producer Akon is no exception.
What sets him apart though, is the sheer magnitude of the latest non-music project he’s working on.
Back to His Roots
The ‘Don’t Matter’ singer is going back to his Senegalese roots as he announces progress in his bid to build ‘Akon City’ in the African Country he spent his childhood in.
Born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, Akon was born into a Muslim family in the United States. He, later on, returned to Senegal, which he considers to be his adopted hometown.
As Akon shared with his followers on Instagram, a consulting and engineering company, KE International, has already been awarded the $6 billion to build the smart city that’s named after him.
Akon City Plans
Akon City will reportedly be developed over two phases. The first one would see the construction of roads, residences, hotels, a school, and a waste facility all set to be completed by 2023.
Meanwhile, the second phase will run from 2024 up to 2029. The goal is to have a city that’s exclusively running on a cryptocurrency called AKOIN.
By 2030, Akon City is expected to have an industrial complex and a stadium. There are also plans to build two interlocking towers at the heart of the city reminiscent of the one Zaha Hadid Architects built in Beijing.
The project was first unveiled in 2018. It was only at the beginning of 2020, though, that Akon announced the breaking ground for the 2,000-acre smart city.
Doubts & Skepticism
Due to the ambitious goals set for the city, there are those who doubt whether Akon City would see completion at all. Only a couple of news outlets have covered the story yet.
However, KE International seems to remain confident in the project saying that the Senegalese people support Akon City and its future designation as a ‘special tax zone’.
The company also shared that it has already raised $4 billion investors to ensure the completion of phases 1 and 2. Akon City is anticipated to be the second city in the African continent to earn the Leader in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.