The ambitious dream of Akon City, envisioned as a “real-life Wakanda” in Senegal’s Mbodiène region, has officially been canceled. Recent reports confirm that after years of anticipation, the project will not move forward as initially planned by the American-Senegalese artist Akon.
Why the project failed
1. Ambitious vision, soft delivery:Launched in 2018 with a projected cost of $6 billion, the plan was to build a futuristic, solar‑powered city using Akon’s Akoin cryptocurrency .
2. Deadlines missed:Permits and land were issued in 2020, with SAPCO warning in August 2024 that failure to begin construction—including critical payments—would result in forfeiting most of the land .
3. Limited construction:Over seven years, only basic groundwork like a youth center, basketball court, and the Welcome Center were completed .
4. Financial struggles:Akon’s Akoin coin lost significant value and external investment pledges didn’t materialize . He admitted management issues and lack of follow-through .
5. Policy and economic shift:Amid Senegal’s debt crisis, the government chose safer investments. A $1.2 billion private‑sector resort would create an estimated 15,000 jobs—more immediate, tangible benefits than a vast, intangible city plan .
Despite grand promises and significant fanfare, the multi-billion dollar smart city saw little progress beyond the construction of a single Welcome Center. Now, Senegal’s tourism and coastal development agency, SAPCO, has taken decisive action, reclaiming nearly all the land earmarked for Akon City.
This pivot signals a shift in focus towards a more grounded, tourism-centered development for the Mbodiène coast. Instead of Akon’s futuristic vision, the area will now see the development of a $1.2 billion resort. This new project is set to be backed by private funding, complemented by some strategic state investment, aiming for a more realistic and immediate impact on Senegal’s tourism sector.
The cancellation of Akon City marks a significant turning point, closing a chapter on a highly publicized but ultimately unrealized mega-project, and opening a new one focused on practical, sustainable tourism growth for the region
Akon City was a bold dream: a $6 billion smart, Wakanda‑inspired metropolis announced in 2018, approved in 2020, and stalled ever since. Pitfalls like delayed progress, funding issues, missed deadlines, and the pandemic stifled its growth. In July 2025, the government pulled the plug. They reclaimed the land and pivoted to a practical $1.2 billion resort project that’s seen as realistic and economically viable.
