Charity & Aid For Africa?

[Psamathe]

I'm sure I don't appreciate the different needs and issuers facing the wide range of challenges different African countries face but, over the years I've seen ongoing reports of the damage the "Aid for Africa" movement does to at least some African countries.

Brilliant sort of parody video from a group of African students hitting back and some of the lyrics really "bite"


And now it looks like BandAid is making something of a comeback

As Band Aid marks 40th anniversary critics take aim at Africa stereotypes
To mark the anniversary, on Monday a new version of the single – its fifth – will be released under the name Band Aid 40.
...
Four decades on, however, is Band Aid doing harm as well as good? That was the suggestion of a statement made this week by Ed Sheeran, who sang ...

For all Band Aid’s popularity over the years, there are many in the development sector who share this view. Critics point to problematic lyrics – yes, they do know it is Christmas in Ethiopia, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world – and images of nameless, helpless victims.
(from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...t-criticised-for-pushing-damaging-stereotypes)

Particularly interesting from the same article

The problem is “Africa always [being] portrayed as a place where children are perpetually in peril,” said Haseeb Shabbir, an associate professor at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at City St George’s, University of London. “Africa is [shown as] a barren civilisation in constant need of salvation, while it is portrayed as the moral obligation of essentially white donors to save a group of people who lack agency to resolve their own problems.”
(from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...t-criticised-for-pushing-damaging-stereotypes)

Ian

 

[AuroraSaab]

He's right, we donate because we think things are at crisis level. We do treat African countries as if they have no agency and constantly need hand outs. Thing is, if charities don't put out tear jerking adverts people in the West don't donate because they will think people in their own country need help just as much.

 

[Beebo]

There was an interesting interview with Ethiopian students who came to the uk and were amazed that the only reference most people have of Ethiopia is famine. Which is sad and outdated, but it was a massive issue at the time. Good for them to be changing the narrative. People seem unable or unwilling to contextualise issues in the time and environment they happened. But 50% of Ethiopians are under 25, so something that happened 40 years ago is ancient history.

I can see how the song lyrics are a bit off in a modern context. But give it some slack, it was written on the back of a fag packet in about 2 hours. And it is undeniable that Ethiopia needed assistance back in 84, and no one was prepared to help until Geldoff and Ure stepped up to the plate. maybe the song is a bit crass to today’s delicate ears, but can we really put all of Africa’s current ills at the door of projects like Band Aid and Rednose Day.

 

[matticus]

There was an interesting interview with Ethiopian students who came to the uk and were amazed that the only reference most people have of Ethiopia is famine.

The world is a big place!

It's impossible to know about every period of every nation's history - even just covering the last 50 years. Tolerance should include allowing people to have gaps in their knowledge.

p.s. the video made me laugh, and seemed to be done in a good spirit 👍

 

[Psamathe]

Listening to a new podcast (Tortoise) today and people are not ahhpy with Mr Geldoff.

Apparently negative stereotypes are costing Africa vast sums eg those negative stereotypes result in higher interest rates when African countries borrow.

Negative stereotypes in international media cost Africa £3.2bn a year – report
Focus on conflict, corruption and poverty heightens perception of risk, raising interest on sovereign debt, authors say
(from https://www.theguardian.com/global-...er-interest-report-payments-on-sovereign-debt)

The podcast highlighted the £3.2bn / year agains Geldoff's £200m meaning he and his Band Aid are actually making things a lot lot worse, costing real money they could use.

Classic "white saviour complex".

Ian

 

[matticus]

Listening to a new podcast (Tortoise) today and people are not ahhpy with Mr Geldoff.

Apparently negative stereotypes are costing Africa vast sums eg those negative stereotypes result in higher interest rates when African countries borrow.

The podcast highlighted the £3.2bn / year agains Geldoff's £200m meaning he and his Band Aid are actually making things a lot lot worse, costing real money they could use.

Classic "white saviour complex".

Ian

Sadly all my tech that plays podcasts is currently broken, so I can only go with the Guardian ( and other interweb texts).. Do tell:
how do they calculate how much of the negative image is due to:
- Mr Geldof sending money to (and filming) starving skeletal kids
vs
- Perpetrators of election violence/corruption?

And if Geldof's campaign was do damaging, why didn't they just refuse the money?

 

[bobzmyunkle]

And if Geldof's campaign was do damaging, why didn't they just refuse the money?

Who are 'they' in this sentence? Do you mean the 'africans'?

 

[Beebo]

Listening to a new podcast (Tortoise) today and people are not ahhpy with Mr Geldoff.

Apparently negative stereotypes are costing Africa vast sums eg those negative stereotypes result in higher interest rates when African countries borrow.

The podcast highlighted the £3.2bn / year agains Geldoff's £200m meaning he and his Band Aid are actually making things a lot lot worse, costing real money they could use.

Classic "white saviour complex".

Ian

Funny how all negative stereotyping is coming from this one song which had laudable aims.

It just seems very easy to place the blame on the people trying to help. Who may now be slightly miss guided. Rather than blaming the millions ons of people and governments that have done nothing and actively sought to undermine the process.

How about looking at what China are up to in Africa at the moment.

 

[Psamathe]

And if Geldof's campaign was do damaging, why didn't they just refuse the money?

It's about creating perception across the world so refusing any money would make no difference. BandAid singles in the charts, the prominent publicity the White Saviour material pushed. Refusing the money would not negate that impact. Bit like defamation - it's the words out there that cause the damage.

Sadly all my tech that plays podcasts is currently broken, so I can only go with the Guardian ( and other interweb texts).

It was published on podcast feed today and not yet available on website. If I remember I'll post a link to web player version when it's published there.

how do they calculate how much of the negative image is due to:

The report https://uploads.guim.co.uk/2024/10/16/Cost_of_Media_Stereotypes_Full_Report_Oct24.pdf. The report describes their methodology (no point in my cutting and pasting a longish section here).

Ian

 

[matticus]

It's about creating perception across the world so refusing any money would make no difference. BandAid singles in the charts, the prominent publicity the White Saviour material pushed. Refusing the money would not negate that impact. Bit like defamation - it's the words out there that cause the damage.

True, but they could have generated a metric feckton of PR by refusing it in 1984.

I'm sure a few hundred thousand dying families would have been on-board with the gesture.

 

[Psamathe]

True, but they could have generated a metric feckton of PR by refusing it in 1984.

I'm sure a few hundred thousand dying families would have been on-board with the gesture.

Also, maybe more complex as times change and maybe impact 40 years after the original can be having a very different impact as much has changed.

I can't comment on damage vs benefits 40 years ago but can see how things are radically different now.

Ian

 

[AuroraSaab]

The money they raised met an urgent need, doubtless saving lives. It's also fair to say that that imagery, even accidental - with it's impression of the benevolent West saving hopeless Africa from yet another crisis - isn't helpful in the long run.

As someone else said though, Band Aid was cobbled together in days so I think it's a bit churlish to single it out as contributing to the image of Africa as constantly needing bailing out, with countries having no agency, when it's a portrayal that has existed for decades, long before Saint Bob. (He's annoying and that song is awful though).

 

[Psamathe]

As someone else said though, Band Aid was cobbled together in days so I think it's a bit churlish to single it out as contributing to the image of Africa as constantly needing bailing out, with countries having no agency, when it's a portrayal that has existed for decades, long before Saint Bob. (He's annoying and that song is awful though).

The issue is that Geldoff is starting it again. They are re-releasing the single as a "mash-up" and at least one of the "stars" Ed Sherran" is going public that he doesn't want his voice included (for reasons being discussed) but despite their objections, can't stop it.

The discussion is not really about 40 years ago, it's about what Geldoff is doing today.

Ian

 

[Psamathe]

Sadly all my tech that plays podcasts is currently broken, so I can only

The podcast is now publihed on their website with a web browser player. When I listened to the download version the item starts close around 16 mins into the podcast but might be that adverts are different on web publication but close around that sort of time into anyway (so if you want to listen you don't have to run through other items.
https://www.tortoisemedia.com/audio/band-aid-backlash-and-project-2025-in-the-white-house-2/

Ian

 

[AuroraSaab]

The issue is that Geldoff is starting it again.

Hadn't realised they were reissuing it. Not sure what the point of that is. It was of it's time and for a specific event. You can appreciate the good it did at the time without trying to make it popular or relevant all over again.

Ed's also a bit annoying. All his songs sound like other people's songs so probably best not to ask him to do his own version unless we want 3 more plagiarism trials.