Akon is reportedly preparing to build a cryptocurrency-based city in Uganda — his second planned futuristic city in the continent of Africa.
On Monday (April 5), the Ugandan government announced that they allocated one square mile of land to the business mogul for the city. The amenities and cost of construction have not been disclosed, but the city — which will be completed by 2036 — will operate on his AKoin currency, “a stellar-based cryptocurrency.”
In regards to the country’s ability to fund the development of the new city, Akon said, “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 added, “Ultimately when you create an opportunity, people grow with that opportunity, people learn with that opportunity, people are motivated with that opportunity.”
The Ugandan city is Akon’s second town in the making. The entrepreneur is also working on the completion of an Akon City in Senegal.
The Senegalese city — which costs about $6 billion to build — is slated to include a mall, school, police department and waste management service in addition to parks, stadiums and other recreational facilities.
Akon has also shared his intentions to ensure the city is technologically advanced. “We want all the latest in future technologies,” he previously said. “I don’t want nothing from the old days. I want it all to be based on tomorrow’s technology, and how it’s gonna be built for our future because all the latest technology now is all instruments and minerals, and resources taken from Africa. I’m already in Africa, so we can build everything within the African continent without having to outsource anything from the outside.”
Last year, Akon told TMZ that he secured the land, the licenses and all other necessary materials to move forward with the process of building his first city in Senegal. Construction will finally start this year and is expected to be completed by 2024.