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DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Herds of cows meander across the one-lane highway that leads down Senegal’s coast to Mbodiene, a farming village surrounded by scrubland where singer Akon plans to build a futuristic city.
The designs, which show shiny, pinkish buildings that bend and curve like waves, would look at home in any sci-fi movie.
In the master plan, architect Hussein Bakri has carved out space for a parking lot - for flying cars.
Akon, the Senegalese-American singer of 2006 hit “Smack That”, has said the city will attract tourists and create thousands of jobs. U.S.-based firm KE International said it plans to start construction on the $6 billion project next year.
FEATURE-Future or fantasy? Senegal questions Akon City
If history is any guide, they will most likely be let down, said Xavier Ricou, an architect and former director at APIX, Senegal s agency for promoting investment and major projects. During the 15 years or so that I worked at APIX, I saw proposals from people who wanted to make cities all over, said Ricou, revealing how millions of dollars were spent on advanced plans for cities that were then never built.Reuters | Updated: 14-12-2020 11:51 IST | Created: 14-12-2020 11:39 IST
Representative image Image Credit: Wikipedia
Herds of cows meander across the one-lane highway that leads down Senegal s coast to Mbodiene, a farming village surrounded by scrubland where singer Akon plans to build a futuristic city.
Planning gaps leave Senegal questioning ‘Akon City’ Source: Reuters Published: 2020/12/15 19:08:40 Herds of cows meander across the one-lane highway that leads down Senegal s coast to Mbodiene, a farming village where singer Akon plans to build a futuristic city.
Designs of shiny, pinkish buildings that bend and curve like waves would look at home in any sci-fi movie.
Architect Hussein Bakri has carved out space for a parking lot - for flying cars.
Akon has said the city will attract tourists and create thousands of jobs. US-based firm KE International said it plans to start construction on the $6 billion project in 2021.But in Senegal, a West African country where villagers drive horse carts on unpaved roads, the proposal has met with suspicion and bemusement.
Senegal: Future or Fantasy? Senegal Questions Akon City allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.