Akon Lighting Africa is a project that was started in 2014 by music artist Akon along with Samba Bathily and Thione Niang. The goal of the project is to provide electricity using solar energy in Africa. The initial method used by the project is to install solar street lights and small energy systems.
History
Akon (Aliaune Thiam, born in Missouri) and Thione Niang grew up in the Kaolack Region of Senegal, in a town without electricity. In 2013, they decided to help improve life in Africa. Samba Bathily joined them and used his company, Solektra INT, to provide solar-powered equipment. By working together, they started the project in February 2014. Their first step was to install solar street lights and small energy systems.
By 2015, the project had brought electricity to 14 African countries and created jobs for more than 5,000 people. Akon said their work had provided electricity to 1 million households in Africa. Many of the workers were young people who learned to install and repair solar equipment. The project used taxes from the United States on Chinese solar panels, which left Chinese companies with extra supplies. They arranged financing through China Jiangsu International Economic And Technical Cooperation Group to buy solar equipment. This helped African nations start their projects without needing loans from the World Bank.
In an interview, Akon said they had reached 100,000 households and installed 13,000 streetlights. Their method involves talking with government leaders to identify villages suitable for pilot projects. When a pilot project works well, other villages often request similar lighting and electricity systems.
Countries
Since 2014, Akon's group has been active in 14 countries, including Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Benin, and Sierra Leone.
Solektra Solar Academy
The group announced the start of the Solar Academy in Bamako, Mali, during the second United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Forum in New York City. The Solar Academy will teach students how to use solar panels to provide light in Africa. Samba Bathily said in an interview, "We have the sun and new technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. Now, we need to build on African knowledge, and that is our goal." New partnerships are being formed with international researchers to help Africa transition to cleaner energy sources.