Bob Geldof’s iconic Band Aid song, Do They Know It’s Christmas?, is back with a reboot this year. Originally released in 1984 to address the Ethiopian famine, the song raised £8 million for relief efforts and has since been reimagined in 2004, 2014, and now again in 2024, featuring a lineup of major artists. Over the past four decades, the Band Aid Charitable Trust has raised over £150 million for various causes.
The original song mobilised millions into a giving mindset during the Christmas season, using emotive imagery and narratives to pull at the heartstrings of audiences far removed from Ethiopia’s struggles. While the immense funds raised, and the global engagement cannot be overlooked—and indeed came from a place of compassion—the campaign failed to consider the long-term implications of the messaging. It created and reinforced a damaging, oversimplified view of Africa as a monolithic continent perpetually in crisis.
The Legacy of Band Aid: Narratives Matter
While Do They Know It’s Christmas? raised awareness and funds for Ethiopia’s famine, it did little to explain the complex causes behind the crisis or differentiate the situation in Ethiopia from the rest of the African continent. Critics have since highlighted that the campaign’s imagery and lyrics reduced an entire continent to stereotypes of poverty, helplessness, and dependency.
Michael Buerk, the BBC journalist whose report inspired Band Aid, reflected on this paradox in his foreword to UK journalist, Peter Gill’s book, who covered the 1984 famine in Ethiopia and wrote about the country’s history in the years following Live Aid. He noted that while the crisis awakened global compassion, the solutions offered were inadequate. Even decades later, Ethiopia’s food insecurity persists, with root causes left unresolved. Similarly, Bono, who has consistently featured on the various versions of the song, has acknowledged the limitations of aid, emphasising that sustainable economic growth and entrepreneurial capitalism have proven far more effective in reducing poverty than charity alone.
Ethiopia itself demonstrates the importance of self-determination. After expelling a communist regime in 1991, the country began expanding economic freedoms and achieved significant progress, including a peace agreement with Eritrea in 2018. These efforts have driven remarkable economic growth, underscoring that long-term solutions lie in empowering nations to take charge of their own futures. So why isn’t it more widely acknowledged that they are integral to shaping their own paths to progress?
The Response: A Call for Change
Band Aid’s messaging has faced growing criticism in recent years. Ghanaian-English rapper Fuse ODG has been at the forefront, rejecting the campaign’s narratives since 2014. He argues that while the song may generate sympathy and donations, it perpetuates damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism, and investment, ultimately costing the continent its dignity, pride, and identity.
This year, Fuse ODG released an alternative song, We Know It’s Christmas, which celebrates Africa’s progress and cultural pride. Proceeds from the song will support innovative local projects through the New Africa Growth and Relief Fund. His call is clear: campaigns must be sustainable, centre the voices of the communities they aim to support, and allow these communities to lead the way in addressing their challenges. Fuse has also launched an online platform, SONA (School of New Africa), designed to teach people about Africa from African perspectives, showcasing the continent’s glory and achievements rather than focusing solely on Western narratives of Africa.
Even Ed Sheeran, whose vocals were used in the 2024 reboot without his consent, has voiced disappointment, crediting Fuse ODG for inspiring his stance. Sheeran acknowledged that Band Aid’s approach perpetuates harmful perceptions of Africa, and his outward voice on this topic has sparked broader discussions and brought greater attention to the issue.
Amplifying Local Voices
A blog by NPR’s Goats and Soda brings critical insights from individuals in communities often targeted by Western aid campaigns. Daniel Masheti, a small business owner in Kibera, expressed mixed emotions about Band Aid. While acknowledging the noble intent of raising funds, he criticised the song for harming the dignity of African communities, emphasising that progress is possible without charity singalongs.
Josephine Alam, another small business owner from kenya, shared a similar perspective. While she appreciated the sentiment behind global charity efforts, she lamented that they often portray Africa solely through the lens of poverty and suffering. She urged the world to recognise the continent’s talent, innovation, and resilience, highlighting that many Africans, like herself, earn their livelihoods and support their families independently.
These reflections underscore the importance of centring local voices in aid campaigns. Charitable efforts must evolve to treat communities as partners rather than passive recipients. By involving those on the receiving end in shaping these campaigns, we can ensure that support is ethical, effective, and empowering.
The Bigger Picture
The BBC plans to mark the 40th anniversary of Band Aid with a documentary featuring previously unseen footage. However, it has remained largely silent on anniversaries like the 140th year of the Berlin Conference, a critical event that carved up Africa and left a legacy of exploitation. This contrast highlights a missed opportunity for deeper conversations about reparations, economic justice, and sustainable solutions.
Charity singalongs like Band Aid may have been well-meaning, but they no longer suffice. It’s time to move beyond superficial gestures and address the systemic issues that perpetuate inequality. Long-term solutions must focus on empowerment, reparations, and sustainable development, ensuring that Africa’s narrative is defined by its people.
Call to action: One World Together
At One World Together, we’re committed to breaking free from the harmful narratives perpetuated by campaigns like Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas?. While well-intentioned, these narratives often portray communities as helpless and dependent, overshadowing their resilience, innovation, and capacity for sustainable change. Instead, we focus on a future where resources and decision-making power are placed in the hands of those who know their communities best—the problem-solvers who live through these challenges and create solutions from within! By embracing this approach, we can replace outdated models of aid with partnerships built on respect, dignity, and collaboration.
If you believe in supporting change that empowers communities instead of reinforcing stereotypes, join One World Together today. Together, we can build a world where every contribution fuels local innovation and progress.
Become a Global Citizen: Join the movement to create real change today. – https://oneworldtogether.org.uk/join-us/become-a-global-citizen/
Support the Solidarity Fund: Your contribution goes directly to grassroots organizations driving progress. – https://oneworldtogether.org.uk/join-us/donate/
Useful links to learn a little bit more:
More readings:
Abbey, N. (2024). Ed Sheeran, Fuse ODG: do they know they’re dead right about Band Aid? Africa needs more than a singalong. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/19/ed-sheeran-fuse-odg-band-aid-africa-pop-stars [Accessed 9 Dec. 2024].
Bwire, T. (2024). Ed Sheeran and Fuse ODG rebuke Band Aid charity song. We ask Kenyans to weigh in. [online] NPR. Available at: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2024/11/25/g-s1-35709/ed-sheeran-fuse-odg-band-aid-do-they-know-its-christmas-africa.
Miltimore, J. (2023). The (Economic) Story Behind ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’. [online] Substack.com. Available at: https://jjmilt.substack.com/p/the-economic-story-behind-do-they [Accessed 9 Dec. 2024].Fuse ODG (2024). My criticism of the Band Aid charity single caused a storm. Now let’s talk about the way forward for Africa. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/03/criticism-bob-geldof-band-aid-charity-single-africa-caused-storm-fuse-odg.
Roisin O’Connor (2024). Bob Geldof responds to Ed Sheeran statement on Band Aid song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ [online] The Independent. Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bob-geldof-ed-sheeran-band-aid-controversy-b2652992.html [Accessed 9 Dec. 2024].
Rossen, J. (2019). Band Aid: The Charitable—and Controversial—History of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ [online] www.mentalfloss.com. Available at: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610472/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-song-history.
Written by Bridie McGough
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