hand and heart

The recent post office troubles have impacted our regular fundraising efforts. Please consider supporting the Register and Catholic journalism by using one of the methods below:

  • Donate online
  • Donate by e-transfer to accounting@catholicregister.org
  • Donate by telephone: 416-934-3410 ext. 406 or toll-free 1-855-441-4077 ext. 406
A Liberian man looks at an Ebola sensitization campaign painted on a wall in downtown Monrovia, Liberia, Nov. 19. More cooperation is needed between the international community and faith leaders in stemming the ongoing Ebola epidemic, said a joint commun ique issued by the United Nations and the World Council of Churches. CNS photo/Ahmed Jallanzo, EPA

Is updated Band Aid charity song demeaning to Africans?

By  Fredrick Nzwili, Religion News Service
  • December 8, 2014

NAIROBI, Kenya - Some church leaders are criticizing a British musicians’ charity group raising funds for the West African Ebola crisis, saying its new single reinforces negative stereotypes of Africa.

Band Aid, which was started 30 years ago by Bob Geldof, has re-recorded the charity title, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

The song was first recorded in 1984 to raise money to help victims of of the Ethiopia famine.

Where the original lyrics said: “Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears,” the reworked lyrics have it: “Where a kiss of love can kill you and there’s death in every tear.”

Critics say the lyrics are patronizing and demeaning to Muslims in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea who do not celebrate Christmas.

“I feel a whole new song is required,” Emeli Sande, a British singer-songwriter said in a tweet.

The general feeling here is that 30 years after the Ethiopian famine, Africa has surged forward. In fact, Nigeria was able to stem the Ebola crisis without much external help.

“Seeking help for some of the bigger challenges in Africa has often sparked off all types of stereotypes,” said Dr. Daniel Gobgab, the head of the Christian Health Association of Nigeria. “This tends to overshadow the good that happen here.”

Not everyone agreed with the critique. The Rev. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, general secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, said the continent still needs people who can help mobilize resources to help fight Ebola and the willingness to help is appreciated.

“They do that not because Africans are a bunch of helpless, hopeless people, but to remind the world of our common humanity and our common responsibility,” said Opuni-Frimpong.

In Sierra Leone, one of the countries bearing the brunt of the crisis, Ebun James–Dekam, general secretary of the Council of Churches, said Band Aid was raising funds for people who are suffering.

“I bet when the monies are sent to us we will not say we do not want it,” she said.

She blames some problems facing the continent on Africa itself.

West Africa’s most famous musicians recently released their own Ebola appeal song, which urges the people to trust doctors.

Please support The Catholic Register

Unlike many media companies, The Catholic Register has never charged readers for access to the news and information on our website. We want to keep our award-winning journalism as widely available as possible. But we need your help.

For more than 125 years, The Register has been a trusted source of faith-based journalism. By making even a small donation you help ensure our future as an important voice in the Catholic Church. If you support the mission of Catholic journalism, please donate today. Thank you.

DONATE