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R&B singer Akon to build futuristic city

Akon City - Level 4

The singer Akon will build a city from scratch. He has raised money for a futuristic city of 300,000 people on Africa's west coast. He will call it Akon City. He said it was a "real-life Wakanda" - the city from the movie "Black Panther". Akon was born in the USA to Senegalese parents. He said construction on the $6 billion project will start next year and take three years to finish. He hopes it will provide much-needed jobs for Senegalese people.

Designs on akoncity.com show dreamlike, shining glass and steel skyscrapers. They were inspired by traditional African sculptures. Akon wants his high-tech city to be a port of call for Senegalese and other Africans facing racial injustice around the world. He said people are treated unfairly, "in ways that you can never imagine". He added: "If you're coming from...the diaspora and...you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop."

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Akon City - Level 5

The R&B singer Akon said his plans to build a city from scratch will go ahead. He has raised funds for a futuristic metropolis of 300,000 people on Africa's west coast. He will call it Akon City, which he described as a "real-life Wakanda" from the city in the movie "Black Panther". Akon was born in the USA to Senegalese parents. He spent much of his childhood in Senegal. He said construction on the $6 billion project will start next year. It is expected to take three years to finish. He hopes the project will provide much-needed employment for Senegalese people.

esigns on akoncity.com show a cityscape of dreamlike, shining glass and steel buildings. The towering skyscrapers were inspired by traditional sculptures made in African villages. The city will be high-tech and have high-speed Internet. Akon wants the city to be a port of call for Senegalese and other Africans facing racial injustice in the USA or Europe. He said: "The system back home treats people unfairly, in...ways that you can never imagine....So if you're coming from...the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Akon City - Level 6

The American R&B singer Akon has said his plans to build a city from scratch will go ahead. Akon has raised funds for a futuristic metropolis with a population of 300,000 people. It will be called Akon City and be built on the coast of Senegal on Africa's west coast. Akon has Senegalese roots. He was born in the USA to Senegalese parents and spent much of his childhood in Africa. He described his city as a "real-life Wakanda," in reference to the city in the movie "Black Panther". He announced that construction on the $6 billion project will commence next year and is expected to take three years to complete. He hopes his undertaking will provide much-needed employment for Senegalese.

Blueprints on the akoncity.com website show a cityscape of surreal-looking gleaming glass and steel high-rises. The designs of the towering skyscrapers were inspired by traditional sculptures made in African villages. The city will boast high-tech living and high-speed Internet connectivity. Akon wants the city to be a port of call for Senegalese and other Africans facing racial injustice in the USA or Europe. He said: "The system back home treats people unfairly, in so many different ways that you can never imagine. And they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way. So if you're coming from...the diaspora and you feel that you want to visit Africa, we want Senegal to be your first stop."

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25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson