Five-time Grammy nominated artist Akon has launched “Akon Lighting Africa,” partnership to bring electricity to one million households in Africa by the end of 2014.
“We’re already close (providing electricity) to 200,000 and the movement has just started,” Akon told Eurweb.com. “In America sometimes, the concept of having that opportunity to be able to go back to Africa and invest and be a part of Africa’s growth has been really kind of quiet. This is a way to open everyone’s eyes to do it. I’m utilizing this opportunity and I’m promoting it like I would promote my album or record or anything of that nature.”
Statistics show that more than two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is without electricity and more than 85 percent of those living in rural areas lack access.
The “Right Now” singer is part of a partnership with GIVE1 PROJECT and Solektra International, a member of ADS Group (Africa Development Solutions Group.)
He went on a nine day tour of nine African nations, including Mali, Gabon, Congo and Senegal (the country where he was raised)
“We went to the countries that actually needed the electricity in the rural areas that was like desperately in need,” Akon, who also has roots in the St. Louis metro area
While in the countries he met with a number of people, including the presidents of those nations.
Akon and his partners have worked out a plan for the financially underdeveloped nations and the people living there to be able to afford the electricity. They’ve entered into an agreement with a company in China that manufactures solar panels.
“We created a system to where we could do a pre-paid systemand the countries can do yearly payments until they pay off the debt,” he said.
He revealed they’ve gotten offers from officials in 10 other African countries that don’t have a highly developed economy to start tours the end of April. He says they too have expressed a willingness to be a part of the electricity initiative.
Born AliauneBadara Akon Thiamwhen in St. Louis, Missouri, he spent the first seven years of his life living in Dakar, Senegal– then spent time going between Senegal and the U.S. until he was 15. At15 he permanently moved to the U.S. where he resided in New Jersey.
To learn more about the “Akon Lighting Africa” initiative visit www.akonlightingafrica.com.
Information from Eurweb.com contributed to this report.
