It’s official, Akon has his own city in Senegal.
Known as “Akon City,” the rapper and entrepreneur tweeted Monday that he had finalized the agreement for the new city.
Akon, who is of Senegalese descent, originally announced plans for the futuristic “Crypto city” in 2018 saying that the city would be built on a 2,000-acre land gifted to him by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall. The new city would also trade exclusively in his own digital cash currency called AKoin, he said.
The official website for the city said at the time it would be a five-minute drive from the West African state’s new international airport.
‘I really want to make the biggest impact in Africa’
Akon was born in Senegal before moving to Union City, New Jersey, at 7, according to his website.
Known for songs like “Locked Up,” “Lonely” and “Oh Africa,” the Grammy-nominated rapper is more recognized as a business man than a musician these days.
His most recent venture is Akon Lighting Africa which is providing solar power to African countries.
“I really want to make the biggest impact in Africa for sure,” Akon said during a 2013 interview with CNN. “If I could have my way, Africa would be the United States of Africa.”