News — Akon

Acclaimed musician and business mogul Akon has set his sights on constructing a second futuristic and cryptocurrency-based city on the motherland, with the East African nation of Uganda being his country of choice this time around.

In a statement Monday, the Ugandan government announced they had reached an agreement to allocate the Senegalese-American singer a piece of land worth a square mile for the “Akon City” project, Revolt reported. The state-of-the-art project is expected to be completed by 2036 and transactions in the city will be done through his “stellar-based” AKoin cryptocurrency. The cost of the project was not disclosed though the one in his native Senegal is reportedly valued at around $6 billion.

Asked if the country’s locals would be able to afford the services the city would be offering once complete, the Freedom singer answered with optimism. “I know if I put it there, they’re going to find a way to afford it because it’s going to motivate them,” he said.

“But ultimately when you create an opportunity, people grow with that opportunity, people learn with that opportunity, people are motivated with that opportunity.”

The news of the Uganda project comes on the back of a similar $6 billion one in his native Senegal. In an interview with the Associated Press last year, the 47-year-old revealed construction was set to commence this year.

Born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, the musician had earlier shared his plans of building the city in 2018, describing it as “a real-life Wakanda” in reference to the Afro-futuristic city in Marvel’s movie, Black Panther. He also said the city will similarly use the AKoin cryptocurrency.

The site for the Senegal project is in the village of Mbodiene. And the time this story was reported last year, the Locked Up singer said he had been able to acquire one-third of the $6 billion needed for it.

Akon also said he hoped the project would create jobs for locals in the West African nation as well as serve as a “home back home” for Black Americans and other people in the diaspora who are being racially discriminated against.

“The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way,” he told the Associated Press. “So if you’re coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop.”

Rozina Negusei, the wife of award-winning Senegalese-American musician and entrepreneur Akon, has announced she is going to invest $12 million in the Ugandan entertainment industry over the course of five years, local entertainment platform, Sqoop, reports.

Negusei, who is the President and CEO of Zanar Entertainment, Entreeg Records & Entreeg Entertainment Group, is reportedly in the East African nation to explore a host of business opportunities to invest in.

“We are here to explore new opportunities in Uganda, we are focused on investing in Agriculture, solar, and real estate. Our main focus is to see how we can bridge the gap between East Africa and West Africa in terms of business and trade,” she said.

Negusei was invited to the country by the Managing Director of the East African Partners (EAP), Isaac Kigozi. She also came with a contingent of Turkish investors, and they are set to visit some government departments, agencies, as well as some private sector establishments.

“We wanted to bring entertainment in Africa, we are looking for a hub, a home to be the Africa Hollywood; America became America not because of Agriculture but because of the entertainment industry. If we bring entertainment whether movie, music award, every year, Uganda can become the home of the entertainment industry,” she added.

“It’s our job to bring the African movies, music, take it to the next level by recognizing ourself, we don’t have to wait for other cultures to recognize us, we are good enough to recognize ourselves.”

As part of her visit, Negusei also met with President Yoweri Museveni, and was full of praises for the 76-year-old, Blizz Uganda reported.

“I was pleased to meet such an honourable, genius leader and a walking library. He called me a daughter and gave me a name, Estella Ihangwe. It was amazing to be in the presence of such a knowledgeable leader. I have met several leaders, but President Museveni is exceptionally knowledgeable. You guys are lucky to have such a leader. Seriously, you won’t realize it until he is no longer here,” she reportedly said.

“The West told Libya that Gadaffi was a dictator. The Libyans believed them and destroyed their own country. Open your eyes, do not believe everything the west tells you.”

Akon is also expected to later join Negusei in Uganda.