Akon’s plans to build a real-life Wakanda in Senegal have officially hit the eject button. Once touted as a US$6 billion futuristic city powered by cryptocurrency and solar panels, the ambitious “Akon City” project has now been scrapped by the Senegalese government – with most of the land reclaimed and a shiny new (and far more realistic) resort plan taking its place.
Akon is a Senegalese-American rapper, R&B singer and entrepreneur, best known for early 2000s hits like Smack That and Lonely. In 2020, he announced grand plans to transform Mbodiène – a farming village about 80km from Dakar – into a high-tech metropolis inspired by Marvel’s Black Panther. Think hospitals, universities, and his own cryptocurrency, Akoin.
But despite the hype and Hollywood-level vision, not much materialised beyond a youth centre, a basketball court, and a small information kiosk.
After years of missed deadlines and payments, Sapco-Senegal – the government agency overseeing tourism development – pulled the plug. “What Akon’s preparing with us is a realistic project, which Sapco will fully support,” said Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of the agency.
Instead, a scaled-back US$1.2 billion development is now in the works, featuring hotels, apartments, a marina, and a promenade. The aim, according to Sapco, is to “make Mbodiène a true engine of growth”, with up to 15,000 jobs expected in the first phase.
“For a very long time, people, including Akon, have been coming here trying to sell us dreams and illusions,” said local teacher Jean Wally Sene. “Finally, there’s a dream for Mbodiène that we dare to believe in.”
Akon retains 8 hectares of land that may still play a part in the revised plan – though this time, it’s less Wakanda forever and more “resort, for real.”