Until I started visiting different parts of Africa in 1998 I perceived a continent plagued by killer diseases, war-torn, corrupt, terrorised and universally poor.
The reality I’ve discovered visiting a dozen countries on the East and West of Africa since then has almost always been different to this. ‘Africa’ if I had to generalise is a remarkably diverse, vibrant, mind-shifting experience. For pure sense stimulation, it puts Europe in the shade.
Ebola is the latest ‘African’ crisis.
Ebola has hit Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea — 3 small countries in West Africa — incredibly hard. The international community (and local Governments) have been slow to react and it is sadly not surprising that the disease has spread so quickly. Last week, despite the efforts of the local eco-tourism team at Tribewanted, it reached the community of John Obey, Sierra Leone where we have been working the last 5 years. There have been two deaths already.
So, surely those of us involved directly with ebola hit communities should support a charity single whose intention is to get funds to these places?
The intention (and energy) is admirable and no one can deny Geldof, Bono and co this. But I’m surprised they haven’t learnt from the past. Geldof is one of the most eloquent and engaging people in British society, he even calls Africa the ‘luminous’ continent, so why throw another dark cloud across it? I’m not convinced that it is the best answer to fighting ebola.
Do they know its Christmas Time?
Yes, I can confirm that Christmas has reached West Africa. Even in Sierra Leone. The large Christian populations of the region have made that a reality. Last year, on the beach at John Obey, the community even put up a Christmas tree. Its almost like being in Australia!
And this is the crux of the issue with ‘charity singles’. The clue is in the title — band aid 30. This is not about the people who are fighting ebola in their communities. This is about a pop-campaign turning 30 whilst reinforcing the sweeping negative stereotype that Africa is still a mess.
Questions for Band Aid 30:
- Can we be confident that the vast majority of the funding will go quickly and directly into the hands of local organisations who are tackling ebola on the ground in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea and not be siphoned off my middle men?
- Will the negative stereotype that ‘Africa is a mess’ be reinforced 30 yrs later for a new generation? Will they feel they have fixed a problem by downloading a song?
- Have the lessons of ‘bandaid’ as a development tool been learnt? Isn’t supporting the up and running DEC campaign more effective?
- Does it give the impression that ebola is pan-African when in fact it only currently exists in 4 out of 54 countries?
- We know from past emergencies, supporting local capacity & local communities is critical. Is it clear that Band Aid 30 is doing this?
I hope these doubts are proved wrong.
In the meantime I’m supporting the unite4westafrica campaign and, along with our Tribewanted members, fundraising for the John Obey community near Freetown directly by sending cash monthly via moneygram.
‘Go to Africa. Experience it. Maybe have a different attitude to life.’ Damon Albarn to Band Aid 30 artists.
Or maybe the answer is something like RADI-AID
There’s already a charity single fighting ebola…
Comment: Why Geldof doesn’t need to make an ebola song.
Other comments on Band Aid 30
Why I had to turn down Band Aid 30, by Fuse ODG
African perspectives on Band Aid 30
Band Aid 30: clumsy, patronising and wrong in so many ways.
Does Band Aid know that their song maybe harmful?
I’m going to Africa and I won’t get ebola.
Ebola crisis: Three things band aid should be singing about.
The other side of Sierra Leone.
Does Geldof know Africa’s ebola aid songs?
Note:
I’m not African. I’ve only seen a fraction of this magnificent continent over the last 15 years and I’ve never lived in any African country for more than a year. I’m just someone who loves going there can can’t wait to get back to the beautiful beaches and people of Sierra Leone.
