As news of Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce, dominated headlines across the globe early this week in addition to trending on social media platforms for changing his/her gender, another Hollywood celebrity was also setting a record.

Singer Akon launched a solar power academy in Bamako, Mali, an initiative that will enable African engineers and entrepreneurs to produce solar power.

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”, Akon Lighting Africa said.

“We expect the Africans who graduate from this center to devise new, innovative, technical solutions. With this academy, we can capitalize on Akon Lighting Africa and go further.” Said Thione Niang, cofounder Lighting Africa alongside Akon and Samba Baithily.

Through his Akon Lighting Africa project (http://akonlightingafrica.com/) the Senegalese-American singer aims to provide power to 600 million Africans, who don’t have access to electricity presently.

Kenya is among the 14 countries in which the project is piloted.