Akon, a U.S.-Senegalese rapper whose real name is Aliaune Thiam, grew up in a rural town in Senegal and spent much of his childhood without electricity. He personally faced the challenges of living off the grid, from limited educational and career opportunities to health and quality of life concerns. In 2014, Akon launched the “Akon Lighting Africa” project to help Africans access low-cost yet sustainable energy through solar power. Understanding the affordability of solar power, Akon’s solar project aimed to bring much-needed electricity to more communities in Africa.

Electricity Access in Africa

According to the World Bank in 2022, millions of Africans still do not have access to electricity. “West Africa has one of the lowest rates of electricity access in the world; only about 42% of the total population and 8% of rural residents have access to electricity,” the World Bank says.

Akon founded the solar project in partnership with two visionary co-founders, Thione Niang, a passionate Senegalese political activist, and Samba Bathily, a successful entrepreneur and CEO of solar company Solektra International. The co-founders understand that rural African communities require more than just temporary aid from foreign donors. They believe in empowering these communities with “affordable renewable energy delivered by fully trained African professionals managing for-profit projects that bring longevity, generate jobs and build new self-sustaining economies,” the Guardian reports.

Benefits of Akon’s Solar Project

In the first year of operation, Akon Lighting Africa brought solar energy to 14 African nations through street lights and solar panels. The project has made a significant difference in the communities it targets. Solar electricity is allowing vendors with outside businesses to operate for longer hours, children are able to study after dark and crime rates are decreasing due to the visibility that solar-powered street lighting provides.

As of 2016, the project had made significant progress toward its goal of providing solar-powered electricity to 250 million people on the African continent by 2030. With the installation of 1 million solar-powered street lights in 480 communities across 16 nations and the establishment of 1,200 solar microgrids and 5,500 job opportunities, the project is well on its way to fulfilling its mission. By 2020, Akon Lighting Africa had provided solar energy to 25 nations and about 28.8 million Africans in need.

A Vision of Sustainability for the Future

The singer has also expressed his vision of building a futuristic city in Senegal, called Akon City, powered entirely by sustainable energy. The city, which will feature everything from homes to hotels, schools and even an airport, will embody the principles of sustainable development and futuristic design. Akon also intends to build a $1 billion hospital with 5,000 beds among its many amenities.

The Akon Lighting Africa project is dedicated to improving lives in sub-Saharan Africa by partnering with local governments, companies and nonprofits to bring accessible solar energy systems to families, hospitals and schools. With 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population being younger than 30, creating sustainable jobs is crucial in many communities. To achieve this, in 2015, the project launched the Solar Academy in Bamako, Mali’s capital city, where young people from all over Africa receive training to become skilled professionals in the solar energy sector, for example, by gaining skills to build and maintain solar energy equipment.

The Akon Lighting Africa project is a great example of how investing in renewable energy can create jobs and bring electricity to people who need it. The project is bringing electricity to Africa by working with Chinese manufacturers of solar-powered products to provide affordable solar power to more Africans. This project is a great example of using renewable resources to create sustainable benefits.

– Frida Sendoro
Photo: Flickr