R&B star Akon has been given a $1 billion credit line from one of China’s industry leaders to help him provide solar power to millions of people in Africa.
The “Locked Up” hitmaker has taken a step back from music in recent years to focus on his passion project, the Akon Lighting Africa company, which he co-founded in 2013 to provide electricity to some of the continent’s most impoverished rural areas.
performing on the set of his new music video.
Soweto, South Africa – 14.05.09
Featuring: Akon
Where: South Africa
When: 14 May 2009
Credit: WENN
**Not available for publication in South Africa**
He has since expanded his firm’s charity efforts to Latin America, while also setting up the Solar Academy in Mali to teach engineers how to harness the power of the sun’s energy.
Now Akon has opened up about how he managed to make his solar dream a reality, revealing the key was securing extensive funding from one of China’s biggest companies.
During a recent interview, Akon, who grew up in Senegal, revealed he switched his focus on providing solar power to the masses after realizing how political Africa’s electricity industry was.
“I realized Africa would have to be built by Africans themselves,” Akon told CBS. “So we wanted to create a generation of doers and people that would actually make a difference, so ultimately I just decided to start with myself.”
performing on the set of his new music video.
Soweto, South Africa – 14.05.09
Featuring: Akon
Where: South Africa
When: 14 May 2009
Credit: WENN
**Not available for publication in South Africa**
Akon sought out business partners in China and struck a deal with bosses at one leading solar product company to reuse their items to build solar panels in Africa.
His efforts have since given 16 million Africans access to electricity and the singer is determined to boost that figure to 80 million within the next 10 years.
