According to The Independent, the Senegalese singer has decided to take a break as a musician in order to bring electricity to 600 million Africans with the launch of his solar academy as part of an initiative called ‘Akon Lighting Africa‘.
The charity says that the academy, located in Bamako, Mali, will assist engineers and entrepreneurs from all over the continent to grow skills that will enable them develop solar power production.
Co-founder of Akon Lighting Africa, Samba Bathily, along with Akon and Thione Niang, said taking advantage of natural resources in a continent that gets 320 days of sunlight is the only logical step.
“We have the Sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. We now need to consolidate African expertise,” he told Reuters.
“We expect the Africans who graduate from this centre to devise new, innovative, technical solutions. With this academy, we can capitalise on Akon Lighting Africa and go further.”
Akon’s philanthropic effort has garnered the support of thousands of fans as well as fellow musician Snoop Dogg, who applauded his initiative!
Photo Credit: Getty
