In 2014, Akon co-founded Akon Lighting Africa to bring solar power to rural Africa; within a year, it was reaching communities across 14 countries

In 2014, music artist Akon co-founded Akon Lighting Africa, a solar initiative aimed at providing electricity to rural areas of Africa. According to a 2019 case study on the project, it was able to install solar solutions in 14 African countries within a year of its founding. The case study describes Akon Lighting Africa as a celebrity-run project, highlighting the need for electricity in rural Africa, where 447 million people lacked access to power in 2024, an increase from 376 million in 2010.

Despite global progress in electrification, sub-Saharan Africa has lagged behind, with rural areas seeing a significant increase in the number of people without access to electricity. The project's plan involves utilizing Africa's natural sunlight and new technology, combined with local expertise to bring steady power to these areas.

While the initiative has made progress, it faces challenges such as the varying electricity and renewable-energy status across different countries. The case study suggests that distributed renewable energy, like off-grid solar and mini-grids, is a cost-effective solution to provide electricity, especially in off-grid areas. However, significant barriers such as the high cost of infrastructure and the inability of many households to pay connection fees remain.

The case study concludes that a single project like Akon Lighting Africa is unlikely to solve the vast energy gap, and reaching universal access will require targeted subsidies, innovative financing mechanisms, and least-cost electrification solutions.