Ed Sheeran is unhappy his vocals have been used on a Band Aid 40th anniversary single, claiming the initiative perpetuates “damaging stereotypes” of Africa. The Telegraph has more.
The singer performed on a 2014 version of Do They Know It’s Christmas?, alongside One Direction, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith.
To mark 40 years since Sir Bob Geldof put the original single together, a new “ultimate mix” is being released which blends the different versions.
However, Sheeran said in a post on Instagram: “My approval wasn’t sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals.
“A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed… This is just my personal stance. I’m hoping it’s a forward looking one. Love to all x.”
Sheeran said the issue has been “eloquently explained” by the British-Ghanaian songwriter and rapper Fuse ODG, who is a friend of his.
He linked to a post in which Fuse ODG wrote: “Ten years ago, I refused to participate in Band Aid because I recognised the harm initiatives like it inflict on Africa. While they may generate sympathy and donations, they perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity.
“By showcasing dehumanising imagery, these initiatives fuel pity rather than partnership, discouraging meaningful engagement.”
Worth reading in full.
It’s always someone else’s fault, isn’t it? Africa is beset by endemic corruption, backwards cultural practices and persistent civil war and violence. But what’s holding the continent back isn’t all that, no, it’s Bob Geldof and the rest of the evil white men who insist on taking pity on the plight of the continent and try to offer some assistance. Shame on them. Don’t they know Africa would be Singapore were it not for the involvement of patronising whitey? Oh, er, hang on.
It’s notable that there’s no new assembly of pop stars for the 40th anniversary, just a remix. Back in 2014 the Great Awokening was in its early days and you could still gather right-on musicians to sing for Africa. I bet you couldn’t now, which is why they haven’t tried. Sheeran couldn’t even allow the remix to pass without recording his pious condemnation of the unapologetic spectacle. The question is, will others now join him in his “forward looking” stance by distancing themselves from the song and make Geldof wish he hadn’t bothered?
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More important than Ed Sheeran’s (who he?) tender feelings, is that whole Band Aid thing and other efforts by Sir Gob, had the effect of significantly reducing the amount of land under productive farming in Ethiopia and elsewhere as the locals figured out it was easier to sit at the roadside distribution points looking hungry waiting for the regular aid trucks to roll up dishing out free food, than actually work the land to get dinner.
Yep Good points
It is widely acknowledged that hardly any of the food aid for Band-Aid got to the starving people, as the local warlords wouldn’t allow it.. Some reports suggested that up to 80,000 tons was left rotting on the quayside as they couldn’t move it to where it was needed.
It should focus more on the corruption and political violence that is the real cause of Africas woes.
^ Most definitely this.
The corruption is also a convenient excuse for the Greenies barring of investment in industrialisation. Corruption does not like the light – it needs to be exposed to destroy it.
The world has moved on since 40 years ago. After all, it’s only 35 years since this guy: https://www.w3.org/People/Berners-Lee/ manufactured an interesting product. So in 1984, we had no such mode of communication. Controllable broadcast media, including printed paper, was the norm then.
“meaningful engagement”———–Let poor people in Africa engage with fossil fuels. This is the only way they can emerge from perpetual misery and poverty. But instead they are coerced into leaving those fuels in the ground and bribed into doing that with some money for solar panels, wind turbines or a new school and water facility.
It is a bit stupid . If I was starving to death or lacked access to basic life-saving healthcare I wouldn’t care where the benificence came from and the ‘problematic’ nature of the charity. If you can’t see this basic fact then the totality of your humanity is occluded and you ought to keep your mouth shut.
In hindsight, it would have been better for Europeans to leave Africa alone.
My gut feel is that we would have been just fine never to touch that continent with a bargepole. Let them live the way they wanted to live, enjoy their rich heritage, whatever.
I think we would have been OK without them and it would have avoided a lot of problems.
The white man’s burden.
What about the British population in 30 years time?
“Will They Know It’s Christmas?”
As was pointed out at the time, the starving hoardes were not Christian, and therefore they wouldn’t know Christmas if it slapped them in the face with a wet fish.
The fact that since 1984 none in the virtue-signalling pop industry have managed to write and perform a new “song for Africa” tells us all we need to know about the state of the industry and the abilities of the “stars.”
If Sheeran really doesn’t want his voice used on the latest (tedious) reissue, he should ensure it is scrapped. He’s got the money to sue them to kingdom come.
At the time of Band Aid and the horrific famine in Ethiopia I was all for it. Now I live in Mozambique and much time has passed I can see things are different. Obviously in times of crisis help is needed. But so much aid never gets to the target. First wages for administrators, managers, PR, and all the paraphernalia of running large companies/charities, and then corruption at the other end from politicians down to distributors.
Also there is nothing wrong with solar panels except that they’re often sold for money for food. Same with mosquito nets which are used for fishing nets.
I don’t have an answer. But I do know that pouring aid onto people isn’t always the best solution.
Sorry Mr Jones, but this time my sympathies are with Sheeran and his rapper mate. One of the worst things the west has ever done for Africa is keep taking money off poor people here to give to rich plutocrats there, with a few crumbs thrown to the poor.