Akon launches program aimed to power one million homes with electricity in Africa

Akon has officially announced the launch of his latest philanthropic effort.

He has launched a program to bring electricity to a million homes in Africa and he plans to get it done before the end of the year.

Akon started his luminous initiative "Akon Lighting Africa" this month.

The Senegalese-American singer told ABC News he was reared in both countries and he was "pained" after seeing people in the continent without electricity.

"How could you build any infrastructure with no lights?" he said in a recent interview. "Without electricity, you can't even operate the machines to build roads or bridges. ...That's what created the initiative."

Through his project, Akon aims to install solar equipment in households to improve energy sufficiency.

Some of his partners include Give1 Project, ADS Global Corporation SA and public-private solar energy companies.

ABC News reports that the singer has reached out to government leaders about bringing the project to Senegal, Gambia, the Ivory Coast and other countries.

"After certain hours, it's completely pitch-black," he said. "Even for myself, as a child growing up in Africa, it wasn't that bad, but I know how life could be so much easier if they had those necessities."

Akon says his project is off to a good start. "Akon Lighting Africa" has financed 10 light posts and power for 100 homes in Mali and Guinea Conakry so far.

"I saw what simple lights did to those people there," Akon said. "It was like a huge festival when that light switch was hit. Now, kids can study during the afterhours. It's a luxury. It touched me."