According to the press release, KE International helped secure an initial $4 billion in investment for the city from "leaders in the healthcare and technology infrastructure industries," including Julius Mwale, the Kenyan technology entrepreneur behind MMTC. All rights reserved.For reprint rights. On August 31, Akon, clad in a powder-blue suit and a white face mask, stood next to Senegal's minister of tourism, Alioune Sarr, as the minister laid the first stone in a ceremony at Akon City's construction site. Akon City's official website depicts a futuristic metropolis filled with gleaming twisting skyscrapers and palm trees. He followed up on the charitable initiative in 2014, with Akon Lighting Africa, a project that aims to deliver solar-powered electricity to countries throughout the continent. This means that those who had doubts about the attractiveness of Senegal, and Africa, in general, must convince themselves that there are men and women who believe in Africa,” he said. Without giving specifics, the singer also said he’s considering franchising the concept to other countries on the continent. When asked to name some of the project's local partnerships, Karas did not provide Business Insider with any specific names or organizations. The project's main financial backer is a Kenyan entrepreneur with a mysterious past and a history of being sued over allegations that he failed to repay debts. “COVID-19 has sown doubt everywhere. ", KE International; Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Business Insider. display: none !important; We tried to answer the basic — and still unanswered — question that could overthrow Akon's proposed utopia: Is it possible, or will it become yet another abandoned plan in Africa's long string of failed smart cities? There are plans for residents to be able to use Akoin to pay for the tram, basic utilities, business licenses, and even their taxes. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way,” he said. Akon, left, and Senegal's tourism minister, Alioune Sarr, on August 31. It's more than a two-hour drive from Dakar on a narrow two-lane highway, according to Google Maps. But that's not what he wants his legacy to be, Akon told Business Insider on a recent call. For now, the other investors and partners in the project remain a mystery. And don't forget the office buildings, parks, schools, hospital, and sports stadium. KE International has raised some $4 billion from investors, which it will use to complete the building’s first two phases. Fraud In the Music Industry — How Big of a Problem Is This? Dubai’s Bakri & Associates Development Consultants are crafting the corresponding architectural plans and designs. And if Akon has his way, this will be the first of several more Akon-branded smart cities throughout Africa. Here’s a Detailed Breakdown of Radio Monitoring Companies, An Insanely Detailed Discussion About the Music Modernization Act, Paradise Distribution Estimates That 97% of ‘Black Box’ Royalties Can Be Resolved & Paid, 12 Million Stimulus Checks Remain Unclaimed by Americans Because They Don’t Know the Rules, Moments After Its IPO, Warner Music Group Offers $535 Million In Senior Secured Notes, Irene Under Pressure to Quit Red Velvet Following Ugly Bullying Incident, Quibi Is Shutting Down — Short-Form Video Platform Gone in 6 Months, Joe Rogan Is Officially Kissing California Goodbye — Podcaster’s $3.2 Million LA Mansion for Sale, Juice WRLD Foundation Donates Musical Instruments to Rapper’s Childhood School. Akon said the project already has secured about one-third of the $6 billion needed, but declined to publicly identify his investors, citing non-disclosure agreements. In 2014, he started Akon Lighting Africa, which backs solar energy projects in rural areas. According to Bakri, the city will be open to everyone, from janitors to engineers to Hollywood stars. Renderings of the city show gleaming structures that twist and curve without a single sharp edge in sight. Paul Martin, KE International's project manager for Akon City, talked about using advanced tech — blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the like — for job growth. Akon City. The 800-hectare (2,000 acre), surrealist, solar-powered “Akon City”, backed by the Senegalese government and funded by unnamed investors, was first announced by Akon in 2018. The name? Akon City, $6 bn pan-African project in Senegal in progress, says R&B singer Akon said the project already has secured about one-third of the $6 billion needed, but declined to publicly identify his investors… Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison. "But honestly, I wanted to not overthink my project," he said. Residents will pay for everything with his. The continent is also home to a growing young population that's hungry for jobs in cities. The construction firm, KE International, is based in Los Angeles, and the lead architect is based in Dubai. }, 2  +   =  eight .hide-if-no-js { Akon went on to sell more than 35 million albums worldwide and collaborated with stars like Lady Gaga, Eminem, Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, and Snoop Dogg. The Senegalese American singer said the 2,000-acre futuristic metropolis would include a luxury resort, condos, offices, a hospital, a stadium, and an artificial-intelligence data center. Senegalese authorities have embraced him as a native son, introducing him by his given name Aliuane Thiam and praising him for investing in Africa at a time of such global financial uncertainty. According to Mwale's spokesperson, he's responsible for the bulk of the $4 billion that's been raised. In March 2012, a New York court ordered Mwale and SBA Technologies — alongside another defendant, Fiona Graham — to pay more than $325,000 to two women who sued Mwale and Graham for what they alleged was a fraudulent loan. Akon — born in Missouri as Aliuame Badara Thiam — spent much of his childhood in Senegal before his family moved to New Jersey when he was 11. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. What we found is that Akon is helming a $6 billion project that teeters largely on a single named investor's backing — one who has a history of lawsuits on file regarding unpaid debts. There is nothing fresh, never mind radical, in Ben Wheatley's retelling. Phase one construction – including roads, a hospital, a police station, a mall, and more – is expected to be completed by 2023, with phase two slated to span 2024 to 2029. (Kenyan tech investor and entrepreneur Julius Mwale, who founded Mwale, is among Akon City’s backers.) Akon, who was born in the United States to Senegalese parents, spent much of his childhood in the West African country where in only 44 percent of rural households had electricity even in 2018. Physically, Karas envisions the city as a "hyperdrive" version of various world-famous cities: a mix of the Barcelona coastline in Spain with the futuristic-looking skyline of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and a bit of New York City's Madison Square Garden thrown in for good measure. In the era of billboard toppers like Shakira, Justin Timberlake, and Kelly Clarkson, the Senegalese American crooner made his mark with megahits like "Smack That" and "Lonely.". The almost surrealist, water-like designs of Akon City were inspired by the shapes of traditional sculptures long made in Africa’s villages, he said. Africa could indeed be an ideal place to develop smart cities because its booming young population is more likely to adopt the technology, according to a 2016 report by the consulting firm Deloitte. 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Dylan Smith is a writer and music fan who enjoys reading and watching sports in his spare time. And by 2034, the continent is expected to be home to the largest working-age population — about 1.1 billion people. Times Syndication Service. Alaattin Dogru/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. Mirzapur Season 2 review: The big bad world gets more immersive, with actors deeply entrenched in their parts, Rebecca movie review: Daphne du Maurier's Gothic romance gets a glossy makeover from Ben Wheatley, Netflix, Quibi to shut down operations six months after launch, executives say short video app 'not succeeding'.

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