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Key Points
- The government reclaimed land and canceled the $6 billion smart city project over lack of progress and missed deadlines.
- Sapco is developing a state-backed coastal resort in Mbodiène, aiming to attract private investment and create 15,000 jobs.
- Akon still holds eight hectares and is working with Sapco on a more realistic tourism project integrated into the new development.
Senegal has officially pulled the plug on Akon City, the $6 billion smart city once championed by singer and entrepreneur Akon. Inspired by Marvel’s Black Panther and pitched as a futuristic hub along the country’s coastline, the project never gained real traction. After years of missed deadlines, limited funding, and little visible progress, the government has decided to walk away.
Most of the land that had been earmarked for the project has now been taken back by the state. “The project no longer exists,” said Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of Sapco-Senegal, the agency responsible for coastal development, in comments to the national press.
Senegal reclaims land from Akon team
In 2024, Sapco, gave Akon and his team a clear ultimatum: start building within two weeks or give up the land in Mbodiène, a quiet coastal village about 80 kilometers from Dakar. But nothing happened. Construction never began, and the money that was expected didn’t arrive either. With no visible progress on the ground, the government stepped in and reclaimed most of the site. Neither Akon’s team nor Sapco responded to requests for comment.
Now that Akon City is off the table, the government has turned its attention to a more grounded plan. Sapco is pushing ahead with its own vision to turn Mbodiène into a resort destination. The revised proposal includes hotels, a marina, residential housing, and a waterfront promenade.
The entire project is expected to cost around CFA665 billion ($1.2 billion). “The goal is to make Mbodiène a true engine of growth,” one government document reads. Officials say work is already underway. They’ve committed CFA65 billion ($116 million) in public funds and are hoping to attract the remaining CFA600 billion ($1.07 billion) from private investors.
Akon keeps stake in tourism pivot
Back in 2020, when Akon was awarded 136 acres of land, the vision was ambitious. He pitched a tech-driven city powered by solar energy and anchored by his own cryptocurrency. Plans included a hospital, a university, and housing for both locals and tourists.
The first phase was scheduled for completion by 2023. But to date, only a few structures have materialized—a youth center, a basketball court, and an information booth.
Akon still holds about eight hectares of the original site, which will now be absorbed into the government’s revised plans. Some local leaders say they still believe in parts of Akon’s original idea. Sapco estimates the new resort could generate around 15,000 jobs.
Akon’s ventures pivot beyond megaprojects
Akon, whose full name is Aliaune Thiam, spent part of his childhood in Senegal before moving to the United States. Known globally for songs like “Locked Up,” he’s also led efforts to expand electricity access in Africa through his Akon Lighting Africa initiative.
In recent years, he has stepped back from music to focus on business, including ventures in real estate, technology, and even motorsports. While Akon City never took shape, he remains part of the broader discussion about Senegal’s development. What’s coming next may not have the same grand vision, but it’s grounded, and possibly more within reach.
