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Rapper Akon To Build His Own Cryptocurrency City In Senegal

Rapper Akon To Build His Own Cryptocurrency City In Senegal

Rapper Akon has unveiled plans to build a crypto-currency city in Senegal on a 2,000 acre plot of land that will include an airport.

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa Pearlmen

If you thought that Wakanda, the futuristic, technologically advanced African country at the heart of Marvel's Black Panther, was pure fiction, then you might have to think again.

Not literally, obviously, because - as cool as it would be - Wakanda isn't real. But could this be the next best thing? 45-year-old rapper Akon has unveiled plans to build his own futuristic city in Senegal, called Akon Crypto City.

The star, who is of Senegalese descent, says the city will trade in a crypto-currency - named 'AKoin' after himself - and will be on 2,000 acres of land. According to the Akoin website, the city will be neat the capital, Dakar, and will include universities, schools, a sports stadium and an international airport.

The 'Smack That' singer is behind other similar schemes, including Akon Lighting Africa, which provides scaled solar power solutions throughout 18 countries to date in Africa, and hopes that the Akoin system will, to quote its website, 'offer immediate and ongoing new revenue generating opportunities to stimulate micro-exchanges and financial stability'.

PA

At the Cannes Lions International Festival Of Creativity, Akon said that the currency could be the 'saviour of Africa in many ways.'

As for the city itself, the website claims that the 2,000 acres of land for the project have already been granted by Macky Sall, the President Of Senegal.

The website describes the city in glowing terms - as it would - but we have to say it does sound pretty awesome, on all fronts: "[The city is] within five minutes of the new international airport, close to the coast and a short drive from Dakar, the capital city of Senegal (Akon's ancestral homeland).

"This mixed use, master-planned city, contains everything from residential to retail, parks, stadium, light manufacturing, universities, and schools.

"Akon Crypto City has opportunities for brands, businesses and high-profile individuals to create amazing, inclusive experiences in a futuristic environment and welcomes anyone looking to step into the future."

Of course, as great as it sounds in theory, it takes a long while to build a city from scratch, so we doubt it's going to be ready to move to anytime soon. But we can hope.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Africa, Celebrity, US News, Cryptocurrency