"Akon Launches Solar Academy That Will Supply Electricity to 600M People in Africa"

[Jamaal510]

When he’s not singing or producing music, Akon is busy providing sustainable living options to people in African countries. The Senegalese-American singer’s initiative, appropriately called Akon Lighting Africa, aims to supply electricity to 600 million people in Africa who lack it with the launch of the Solar Academy.

Located in Bamako, Mali, the Solar Academy will help African engineers and entrepreneurs develop skills that will enable them to produce solar power. Experts will be on hand to help the participants with training and equipment, according to a Reuters report.

According to Akon Lighting Africa, the goal of the academy is to teach people how to maintain solar-powered electricity systems and microgrids. Both systems have been growing quickly in rural parts of Africa. In a continent that has 320 days of sun a year, roping in its natural resources will be valuable to the solar-energy efforts.

“We have the sun and innovative technologies to bring electricity to homes and communities. We now need to consolidate African expertise,” said Samba Baithily, who founded Akon Lighting Africa with Akon and Thione Niang.

[chowder66]

1. This is huge!

Go Akon (even though I don't know a lot about him) - hell yeah!!!!!

[Number23]

2. The grossest R&B star ever. Well, after R Kelley of course. But this is still a fabulous thing

K&R

[bettyellen]

3. But "In the Closet" is just a phenomenal work on every level-

Except musically, of course, but I think that's picking nits. Lol.

[Number23]

4. I never even heard In the Closet before. But knowing that man's "proclivities" I have absolutely NO

interest in knowing what he's "in the closet" about.

[bettyellen]

5. Oh my- it's the most bizarre video ever made - you must see it!!!

it's a very strange soap opera about infidelity, and he sort of sing/ speaks many of the parts.
It's so jaw droppings awful that it's great. Horrible song too. The biggest WTF was that? You've ever seen. I never knew he had a sense of humour.