Akon launches solar academy in Mali

Senegalese-American R&B and hip hop artiste, Akon, inaugurated a solar academy, ‘Akon Lighting Africa’, in Bamako, capital of Mali, on Tuesday.

The musician said he decided to invest in solar power to help implant a viable platform to power homes that lacked electricity and assist some 600 million people on the continent.

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

“We now need to consolidate African expertise.

“The academy will aim to teach people how to install and maintain solar-powered electricity systems as well as micro-grids, which are really taking off in rural Africa.”

Aliaune Thiam is the native name of the singer whose 2004 debut album, Trouble, had hit singles such as Locked Up, Ghetto and Lonely.

Mor Thiam, his father, is a jazz percussionist.