Grammy-winning singer Akon wants to build crypto city in Senegal

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To help improve the conditions in Africa, singer and businessman Akon announced plans to build a crypto city in the West African country of Senegal, Page Six reported.

The city, dubbed “Akon Crypto City,” will be built on a 2,000-acre lot that the American-Senegalese singer received as a gift from Senegal President Macky Sall. The lot is located five miles from the country’s new international airport, and is also situated near the coast. The proposed city is a short drive from the capital city of Dakar, which is also Akon’s home town.

According to its website, the Akon Crypto City will blend smart city planning design with a blank canvas for “cryptonizing” daily life. The city will use a cryptocurrency called Akoin as the basis of transactions.

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France, Akon explained to a panel how blockchain technology “can be the savior” for the continent.

“The technology comes with a lot of opportunities which brings power back to the people,” Akon said. “Similarly, blockchain technology gives the people a chance to tap into the opportunities that come with it, thus giving them a chance to advance themselves independently without depending on their governments.”

However, when asked about the technical concept of his crypto city, Akon replied, “I only come up with the concepts, the rest I leave to the geeks.”

Besides this investment in Africa’s crypto industry, Akon has already made a significant impact through Akon Lighting Africa project. The solar powered lighting project, founded in 2014, has already reached African villages in 18 countries.

Apart from being an entrepreneur, artist, producer and philanthropist, Akon is also interested in joining politics. He has been vocal about his ambitions of becoming the next U.S. president in 2020. He is ready to go head on with U.S. President Donald Trump as well as artist Kanye West who has also declared interest in joining the race to the White House.