WASHINGTON – Five-time Grammy-nominated musician Akon, who spent much of his youth in Senegal, has a strong attachment to the African continent. He demonstrated that Thursday while speaking about Akon Lighting Africa, his for-profit business that intends to provide electricity to homes across Africa.
“Nothing can happen without infrastructure. Without energy, we can’t create infrastructure,” Akon said in an appearance at the National Press Club.
The American-born musician’s goal is to bring electricity to one million households in Africa by installing solar equipment in homes across the continent by the end of the year. As of this month, he said, the project has completed about 25 percent of its goal with electricity installed in homes in 14 African nations, including Senegal, Mali and Niger.
The lack of electricity in many homes is a major problem in Africa. Some areas do not even have access to electricity. And for countries’ seeking economic growth, lack of power is a huge obstacle.
Akon’s spoke about his initiative following the close of the U.S. Africa Leaders Summit, a three-day event in Washington that was attended by about 50 African heads of state. His remarks came 20 years after Nelson Mandela addressed the Press Club during his first visit to the U.S. as president of South Africa.
Akon said he was surprised and pleased “at how many how many heads of states actually showed up” for the summit, which was convened by President Barack Obama. He said he was proud that the African presidents and premiers took time to attend the summit and saw it as a sign that African leaders are opening their eyes to global issues.
Obama, Akon said, “is one family member, for Africans, that we listen to what he is going to say.”
The hip-hop artist, known for his hits “Smack That” and “Don’t Matter,” explained that although Africa’s economy has strong growth potential, it must rely on infrastructure and the education of its youth. Both areas need improvement.
Governments must empower the next generation of young Africans, he said, but to do that “they need to educate the youth to become the future leaders. But they’ll need electricity – and they need infrastructure.”
In 2010, Akon was ranked 80th in Forbes’ celebrity power rankings. In 2011 he was ranked the fifth most powerful celebrity in Africa.