end of a dream?

Akon City in doubt: When the ‘Wakanda’ dream fades

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This article is part of the dossier:

Is Senegal’s Akon City an impossible dream?

By Marième Soumaré, Mehdi Ba

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Posted on April 6, 2023 15:17

imageSeries_AKON-CITY_TAR2_732x419 The Senegalese opposition has denounced the “Akon City scandal” © JA montage, SYLVAIN CHERKAOUI FOR Jeune Afrique
The Senegalese opposition has denounced the “Akon City scandal” © JA montage, SYLVAIN CHERKAOUI FOR Jeune Afrique

Faced with delays in the start of construction on the smart city, Senegalese authorities are no longer hiding their displeasure, which could soon sound the death knell for the Wakanda dreamed up by singer Akon. 

This is part 3 0f a 4-part series:

  • Taken to task in November 2022, Akon was forced to relaunch his futuristic city project. He brought a new partner on board, Frenchman Dominique Delport, formerly of Havas and then Vivendi (Bolloré Group).
  • Despite this move, the singer now finds himself in a delicate situation. According to our sources, an international hotel consortium has expressed interest in the area between Pointe-Sarène and Mbodiène, including the land allocated to Akon.

Faced with the impatience of Senegalese authorities, Akon held a ceremony in Mbodiène to convince his interlocutors that Akon City was not just a flight of fancy without a future. When the foundation stone was laid two years earlier, Akon had committed himself to renovating the youth centre, as well as the adjacent football field and basketball courts.

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