Akon’s going crypto pronto
Naomi Campbell, at the Cannes Lions Festival to discuss how fashion influences culture, is seen strutting down the promenade in a light-blue maxi jumpsuit.
CANNES — Akon, whose Lighting Africa project is bringing solar power to Africa, is at the Cannes Lions launching a new cryptocurrency called “Akoin” — that will be available for sale in two weeks with hopes it will help further help the continent.
“I think that blockchain and crypto could be the savior for Africa in many ways because it brings the power back to the people and brings the security back into the currency system and also allows the people to utilize it in ways where they can advance themselves and not allow government to do those things that are keeping them down,” Akon (below), who grew up in Senegal, explained during a panel.
The site for the new crypto coin states that an “Akon Crypto City” is in development on 2,000 acres of land that the rapper/singer was given by the president of Senegal and will be “a first of its kind 100 percent crypto-based city with Akoin at the center of transactional life.” Asked technical questions about the blockchain, Akon quipped, “I come with the concepts and let the geeks figure it out.”
The “Don’t Matter” singer, who is thinking about getting into politics, said he is ready to take on not just President Trump but also
Kanye West in 2020. “I actually really want Kanye to run,” Akon said. He already has the debate planned. “It’s gonna be entertaining — it’s gonna be something worth watching,” he explained. “I’m going to go after Trump, and Kanye will get offended because he likes Trump and he’s going to go after me. Then I’m going to go after Kanye, and then Trump’s going to get offended because he likes Kanye, and he’s going to go after me. And the debate stage will be set where it’s all about me. It’s perfect, a master plan.”
He continued, “I’m going to come in with a team so crazy, man, it’s all going down. I’m not holding my tongue. The way I look at it, win or lose, at least I get the movement going. I get the conversation going. Someone has to tell [Trump] to his face, what it really is, no politic[al] conversation, no language that we don’t understand, like ‘ No motherf - - ker, you’re a liar.’ ” Akon claimed. “I’m not scared of him. I would invite him into the ring. You know what? Matter of fact, let’s just go in the ring, Pay-perview.”