Music Features
Blunders accompany rocker Geldof's efforts to aid Africa
By Ulrike Koltermann Jul 1, 2005, 8:48 GMT
It was Geldof who put topgether the recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.
He persuaded top British rock bands to perform it, then organized the highly successful Live Aid concerts the next year.
The song was released before Christmas. Apparently no one had told Geldof and Co. that Ethiopian Christians use the old Julian calendar and celebrate the holiday later.
Geldof's latest project is Live 8, a series of concerts meant to raise not money but awareness among wealthy G8 countries - whose leaders meet in Scotland July 6-8 - that more must be done to alleviate African poverty.
Many Africans, however, are offended at how few black and African stars were invited to perform at the shows.
"I think for Africans to see an African taking part at this level is very important," commented Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour.
Responding to a barrage of criticism enlivened by the word "apartheid", Live 8 organizers quickly scheduled a concert with African stars in Cornwall, England, and a concert in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Nigerian musician Femi Kuti is sceptical of such events in general.
"Ethiopia was one of the countries that received millions of dollars from (Live Aid), but 20 years on, it's still experiencing the same problems," he said. "If the first concert didn't help, what makes people think that this will?"
Ethiopia indeed remains one of the world's poorest countries.
Foreign donors provide about a fifth of its national budget, and some five million Ethiopians depend on food aid even in years when the harvest is good.
According to the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, about 300,000 Ethiopian children die of malnutrition annually.
The country's growing population makes it difficult to combat hunger. Since the first Live Aid concert in 1985, the number of Ethiopians has nearly doubled and now stands at 73 million.
Soil in the once fertile highlands is depleted of nutrients and farming methods have hardly changed. Ethiopians plant mainly teff, a labour-intensive cereal whose yields are low.
The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP), often criticized for fostering dependence by passing out free food, has changed its strategy.
The needy now receive food in exchange for work - building roads, for example. At the same time, the WFP is trying to eliminate the causes of famine - by planting trees to protect against erosion, and by digging wells to enable people to tend to their fields even in times of drought.
© dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Music
- 1. Tegan & Sara to tour with The Black Keys in October
- 2. The Heavy back with ‘The Glorious Dead’ and U.S. tour
- 3. 2012 Billboard Music Awards Press Room Pictures
- 4. Rita Ora and Marina and the Diamonds Concert Pictures
- 5. Justin Bieber hits the road for North American Tour
Older Talkback
page: 1
I am sorry but I did not read anything that is not true about Ethiopia from the article by Urlike Kolterman. Like the commentator, Abiy Tamirat, I see a lot of hypocricy from the west and Sir Geldof himself. But I can't emphasize enough that Ethiopia's problems are created by Ethiopians themselves. Whether it is one group or a certain regime that is responsible is irrelevant. I must, however, make these points:
1) Mr. Tamirat: What we need is not a market to sell the rest of the nation; what we need is justice and freedom from the world powers.
2) Mr. Geldof: If it is not too much to ask, spare us from your 'saintly' white image and include some of our African brothers and sisters in the event.
3) Mr. Yossou N'Dour: Thanks for raising the voice of the voiceless.
page: 1
Abiy TamratJul 1st, 2005 - 15:13:18
This article by Urlike Kolterman article written on July 1,2005 about the Geldof and Ethiopia is typical of the new stereotype that the western media is fond of propagating. Kolterman Please do a little more research bofore you write such a tasteless lies about my beloved country. If you are not informed, please don't attempt to write, because You will do more harm than good. What I mean by that is that you can mislead readers by your stereotype.
If you have realy made an effort to read and research the truth, you would have been able to learn that Ethiopia's problems is directly associated with it's leaders. For the last 30 years Ethiopia has been ruled by brutal repressive rulers that destroyed our nations socio/ecconomic foundation and massacred hundred of thousands of people. You probably have heard about Mengistu's Communist era of 1974 to 1971, who has no parrellel for his brutality. The only good comparison I can think of is Probably to your Hitler.
The present government is the most hated regime in our history. It's semi communist eccomomic policy has played a huge role for the current food shortage that you passionately write about. Geldof and the likes of you can talk about concerts here and there. However, that does not have any impact in helping Ethiopia. If you rrealy want to be a friend of Ethiopia, write about Ecconomic Justice and how the west should open up its market to african produced goods. You can write about the Melese governments that massacred over 36 civilians in day light whow went to the streets to demonstrate their opposition about vote rigging. The west chooses to look on the other side when gross human right violation takes place in countries like Ethiopia. However You like to play the role of a sympethetic beneficator.
Please stop the Hypocracy! Ethiopia believed and worshiped ONE GOD and traded with gold coins with crosses on them 1700 years ago when the majority of Europeans lived in caves. So please, Just don't trash us out.
Please remeber what Ethiopia wants is not your sympathy and alms. If you are on our side help us in the fight against our repressive leaders who are toasting and waltzing whith the hypocrats officials of the west.
Abiy Tamrat
Ethiopian/american
Washington DC
Report this comment