Akon Launches “Akon Lighting Africa” to Help Bring Electricity to One Million Households in Africa by the End of 2014

It is not unusual for music artists to go beyond their way to provide help to people who are in dire need of assistance. We have seen celebrities, popstars, bands, and even rappers donate cash or organize a fundraiser for several charities. However, what music superstar and philanthropist Akon is doing is more than just a simple fundraising event. He is trying to provide electricity to about a million household in Africa before 2015.

Akon, through Akon Corp., has teamed up with a group of strategic partners in an effort to provide cost-effective and scalable energy solutions in Africa. The initiative called “Akon Lighting Africa” is in partnership with Solektra International, a member of the African Development Solutions Group, together with the GIVE1 PROJECT, and it aims to address the need for electricity in the African region.

Currently, it is estimated that 85 percent of Africans living in rural areas do not have an access to electricity. In addition, more than two-thirds of the population in sub-Sahara Africa is living in conditions without electrical power supply. The initiative aims to support the provision and installation of solar equipment in African households to increase energy sufficiency.

Founder and President of GIVE1 PROJECT, Thione Niang, said, “This initiative gives a unique opportunity to bring partners across the spectrum to address the most important needs to Africa’s development.

Meetings with a select group of heads of state in African countries were arranged to discuss the possibility of a public-private partnership to resolve the energy issue in Africa. In line with this initiative, Akon has also met with different leaders of African countries such as President Macky Sall of Senegal, Prime Minister Aminata Tourè of Senegal, President Alpha Condè of Republic de Guinea,  President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone, and President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon.

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