Senegal recently scrapped Akon’s ambitious $6 billion plan to build a futuristic “Wakanda-inspired” city in favor of a more grounded $1.2 billion resort project. The West African country reclaimed most of the 136 acres of land reserved for the project after the singer failed to deliver on timelines and payments. Akon had only succeeded in building an information center, a youth center, and a basketball court in the project’s five years of existence. Now, Senegal plans to develop Mbodiène into a coastal tourism hub with hotels, a marina, and jobs for 15,000 people—offering a more realistic path to growth. Meanwhile, Akon retains a small portion of land for a less ambitious venture.
Bloomberg
