Aid is dead: Akon sets out the case for lighting up Africa through business

The US-Senegalese rapper best known for filling dancefloors answers your questions about electricity, music and his love of the continent

5.01pm GMT

That’s all we’ve got time for i’m afraid, but here’s a parting note from Akon:

Thank you very much for joining the conversation. With your help the commitments can turn into actions – we’re doing our part by launching the Solektra Solar Academy on 15 December in Bamako, Mali.

We have a great time at COP 21, we’re meeting potential partners, we’ve seen interesting commitments being made

4.54pm GMT

By email Tom Moore asks:

Akon, love the work you’re doing. I believe there is still a place in this sector for aid agencies. Many use the term loosely and still promote business and enterprise. SolarAid for example use grants to help them catalyse markets and reach the very last mile while still selling light and building sustainable markets. There is definitely room for partnerships.

Can I ask what you’re doing to ensure the very poorest aren’t overlooked? Many still can’t afford the cost of a home system and need help getting on the energy ladder.

4.44pm GMT

@guardian @Akon and how will it be fully implemented? Thanks! Your Boy @Somaliland_NOW

I wanted to be a part of Africa’s development in the future. Just log on akonlightingafrica.com for implementation facts.

It is an Pan African project.

4.38pm GMT

Democratic Republic of Congo

My question would be what is he doing to highlight the ongoing situation in DRC the worst humanitarian disaster since WW2 according to the UN. It makes Syria look like a playground scuffle. Officially, 8 million dead since 1997 and likely much more, millions displaced. The wealth of the "heart of Africa" going to the west and technology in things like lamp posts, computers, mobile phones and other devices, what has he done to highlight this? What has he done to get a hydro plant at the mouth of the Congo river where water flow is enough to provide electricity to the entire African continent according to scientists? What is he doing to harness the wealth and stop the exploitation of the DRC which is the richest country in the world based on natural resources.

Am just an African citizen doing my part in the development of Africa in general. Unfortunately I don’t have the power to make decision like that. But you on the other hand should spread the information and raise awareness on the issue in Congo. And I will support anyway I can to raise the awareness.

4.37pm GMT

Long term vision

What is Akon’s long term vision for solar power and communities in Africa in the next 10years?

In the next 10 years Solektra my company wants to be the dominant provider of renewable energy in Africa

4.35pm GMT

The trickle down effect

We’d love to ask Akon how he thinks that innovation can be nurtured and fostered at a community level so that communities are able to take control of their own energy needs, even in the remotest of places.

The winner of this year’s Ashden Award for Business Innovation, SteamaCo, is pioneering remote-controlled renewable energy microgrids for rural areas in Kenya which work like mini power stations for each village, supplying enough energy to run small businesses, as well as power TVs, radios and bright lights in the home:

The communities need to start by themselves by supporting each others’ businesses. That unity will attract other businesses.

We’re working to develop the cheapest microgrid system in the world for the hardest to reach

4.32pm GMT

Where did you get the quad bikes for the Bonanza video?

We rented them

4.30pm GMT

@guardianmusic @Akonwiki @Akon @GuardianAfrica @MaeveShearlaw Ask him when the Stadium album App coming???

We’re launching it in January but don’t tell anyone …

4.28pm GMT

Working with others

I have a question for Akon.

What is Akon Lighting Africa doing to work with other aid agencies working in the energy access/lighting space?

… Again we’re a for profit company, promoting public-private partnerships – so we do not work with aid agencies.

Women in Senegal are working hard to provide solar lighting products to their off-grid communities. Limited awareness and availability of products are one of the main factors impeding women’s breakthrough within the energy sector.

GVEP International is supporting these women in Tambacounda and Kédougou, Senegal: http://www.gvepinternational.org/en/business/energy-opportunities-women-senegal

Will do my best – send the information, I’ll have my people blast it on my social networks

4.26pm GMT

Also by email Nico Tyabji asks:

Many entrepreneurs, local as well as international, are setting up sustainable businesses selling solar lanterns and solar home systems that bring people access to electricity, for less than they currently pay for kerosene and charging phones. It’s a really exciting story for Africa already. How will he make sure he doesn’t kill what’s already happening by giving away lanterns for free?

4.25pm GMT

Why doesn’t Africa open it’s electricity markets to western companies who have proven track records in providing electricity for more then a 100 years? There is no need for Africa to reinvent electricity production/distribution.

The truth is: all western companies were approached at the beginning and all declined, so we started ourselves. Now that we managed to draw attention on the issue, everybody wants to work with us! We have partners from all backgrounds and all corners of the world now

4.23pm GMT

Where does the money go?

Can Akon ensure that none of his relatives or companies will be involved in this initiative? My mind turns to Wyclef Jean and the people of Haiti, who are still waiting for all the promised development whilst living on scraps.

Akon Lighting Africa is a program created by a compant, Solektra International that we created with Samba Bathily and Thione Niang. This is a for profit business, so the money goes to the banks (African banks) and gets re-invested in the projects on the ground.

4.21pm GMT

If not through aid, then how should individuals in western countries help?

I’m aware of the negative aspects of aid- for the UK a huge amount of the overseas budget stays in the UK- agencies like VSO employee as many staff as they send volunteers and have huge expensive London office. Once costs of consultation are factored in a simple project to train a few thousand African youth to be community volunteers ends up costing the same per person as training a doctor in the UK for a year.

Aid ends up redistributing money back to the donor- so how do we, the rich help?

What we do is definitely not aid – it is a for profit business. We want to create jobs.

How can western countries help? Come and invest in our projects. See for instance commitments from governments like France to support the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) launched at COP 21 in Paris– this is a good way to help, money for targeted investments

4.12pm GMT

Philbert Girinema sent two questions for Akon by email:

Why chose Rwanda as one of the countries to invest?

And what has been your motivation in this initiative?

4.10pm GMT

Hi all,

Just to let you know that Akon is with us now.

3.04pm GMT

Laura Stachel, US

2.37pm GMT

Namubebo Akombaetwa, Zambia

2.01pm GMT

Francis Kibhisa, Tanzania

“Africa has an abundance of sunshine … east Africa in particular is in a tropical zone,” says Francis Kibhisa. “Hydro, biofuels, gas and oil are all diminishable but sunshine is the one reliable source Africa can depend on.”

11.06am GMT

Dr Lazare Sebitereko, Burundi

11.04am GMT

The world leaders, environmentalists and scientists convening in Paris this week for the UN climate change conference have a challenge on their hands: to secure a global agreement to stop temperatures rising.

The African contingent will be some of those pushing hard to negotiate on behalf of millions of nomadic pastoralists and small farmers across the continent, for whom the effects of climate change are being felt most.

2.04pm GMT

He’s best associated with the dancefloors of R&B clubs, after releasing tracks including Lonely, Smack That and Sorry, Blame it on Me. But Akon is also on a lesser-known mission: to bring electricity to millions of African homes.