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Akon Moves Ahead With 'Real Life Wakanda' Project 'AKONCITY'

Akon Moves Ahead With 'Real Life Wakanda' Project 'AKONCITY'

The singer announced that construction will begin next year after securing £4.5 billion from investors

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Akon is pushing ahead with his plans to create a $6bn (£4.5bn) city in Senegal called AKONCITY.

The project was previously described by the 47-year-old as a 'real-life Wakanda', which was a reference to 2018 Marvel blockbuster Black Panther.

AKONCITY will feature a Multi-Functional Stadium.
akoncity.com

On Monday, the singer travelled to Mbodiene - around 62 miles from the capital, Dakar, where construction is planned to take place.

He said he hoped his project would provide much needed jobs for Senegalese people and also serve as a 'home back home' for Black Americans and others facing racial injustices.

He added: "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're 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."

The city will have an African Culture Village.
akoncity.com

According to Forbes, the city will run exclusively on the 'Akoin' which is a digital currency that is now part of the 1,600 cryptocurrencies trading around the world.

According to the project's website, the city will play a vital role in finding solutions to challenges such as poverty, global changes and economic progress.

AKONCITY will feature seven different districts which include: an African Culture Village providing revenues for cultural and environmental preservation with a number of resorts and spas, an Offices and Residential District, an Entertainment District complete with a casino, stadium, and mall. There will also be a Health and Safety District with a 13-storey general hospital, police station and fire station.

An Education District will be made up of international and national cultural, education and scientific research institutions.

The Education District.
akoncity.com

There will be a Technology District which will be designed to facilitate the production and commercialisation of advanced technologies by forging synergies among research centres, education institutions, and technology-based companies.

The final area is the SENEWOOD District which will comprise of the AKON Tower, a Media Tower, as well as four film and music studios with offices.

This will be a hospital.
akoncity.com

AKONCITY hopes to become home to one of the largest full-service production studios in Africa, according to the website.

Phase one of the project isn't expected to be completed until the end of 2023 with Phase two running from 2024 to 2029.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Entertainment, Celebrity