Akon's Ambitious Project: the ambitious project of building his city, Akon City is moving forward

Akon's Ambitious Project: Senegalese-American singer Akon in an interview with the BBC on Saturday said that despite numerous disruptions, the ambitious project of building his city, Akon City, in Senegal, is moving forward.

The statement has come more than four years after the singer first revealed his plans of creating a futuristic pan-African smart city that will be developed in the mold of Wakanda — a technologically advanced fictional place in Africa depicted in Black Panther movies and comics.

However, little progress has been made since the 2018 announcement and the site where the metropolis is supposed to be built remains a "waste ground", according to the BBC report. In the interview, the singer blamed the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic for the delay and said, "We're trying to get the city built as fast as possible".

Akon City Dream Still Alive

During the interview, Akon — who blames the Covid-19 pandemic for causing the delay — conceded that he should "have gotten more things in place before promoting it." The singer is nevertheless adamant that his project, which has been "co-signed by the current [Senegalese] president" is still alive.

"I plan to retire in that city. I don't like to use the word the king of the city. But that's what it will turn out to be," Akon reportedly said.

During the interview, the R&B singer was also asked to respond to investor concerns about the legality of using a cryptocurrency in a jurisdiction regulated by the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO). He said:

I want to make sure that however, we involve crypto within the city in a way that lines up with all the rules and regulations.

As explained in the BBC report, the BCEAO has not only warned of the dangers of using crypto but has reportedly called it illegal.