Is Akon’s self-named Senegalese city, powered exclusively by his cryptocurrency Akoin, for real?
The R&B singer says he has finalised plans to build Akon City, a 2,000-acre urban centre in Senegal powered entirely by his cryptocurrency, Akoin, which will give residents of 54 African countries access to credit and government services
Singer Akon is hoping for another hit with his self-named Senegalese city and accompanying cryptocurrency, Akoin.
On Monday, the singer tweeted that he had finalised an agreement to build a 2,000-acre “Akon City” in the West African country, which he said will be like a “real life Wakanda”, a reference to the futuristic African country in the 2018 film, Black Panther. The city will run entirely on Akoin.
Akon, who spent his early years in Senegal before moving to New Jersey, announced plans for the virtual city at theCannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2018, CNN reported at the time. At the festival, Akon said he believes blockchain can be the key to growth in Africa.
“I think that blockchain and crypto could be the saviour for Africa in many ways because it brings the power back to the people,” Akon said. “Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology offer a more secure currency that enables people in Africa to advance themselves independent of the government.”
He was upfront about not developing the technology himself.
“I come with the concepts and let the geeks figure it out,” he said in 2018.
Akoin will eventually be available in all 54 African countries, according to its website, which also calls it a “uniting cryptocurrency for Africa” and says it will “empower Africa”.
