Akon has officially responded to recent speculation about the status of Akon City, the $6 billion futuristic smart city he announced for Senegal. Despite claims that the project had been canceled, Akon told media that Akon City is very much alive. “The Akon City project is under attack,” he said, addressing online misinformation. “But it’s a city—so it’s not going to stop. It’s continuing.”

He explained that launching such a massive initiative in Africa comes with its challenges, especially when various agendas are involved. Akon encouraged supporters to stay informed and not be swayed by negative headlines. “When you’re doing something that big in Africa, especially with so many agendas tied to it, people will try to discredit it,” he said. “Projects like this don’t happen overnight.”

In addition to his city-building ambitions, Akon is expanding his music career into a new genre. He revealed that he is currently working on a country music album, following in the footsteps of artists like Post Malone and Beyoncé. Akon shared that the album is already 60% complete, and he plans to announce the featured collaborations soon.

Stay tuned.