(AllHipHop News) Singer/producer Akon is on a mission to provide electricity for over 600 million people living on the continent of Africa. The Konvict Muzik founder spent much of his early life in the West African country Senegal, and he has now used his resources to establish a solar academy in Mali to teach local citizens about maintaining renewable energy.

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Akon spoke with CNN about his project. He talked about his motivation for starting #AkonLightingAfrica, the early struggles of the campaign, and the lack of accountability in foreign aid.

“I realized Africa would have to be built by Africans themselves,” said Akon. “So we wanted to create a generation of doers and people that would actually make a difference, so ultimately I just decided to start with myself.”