Singer Bob Geldof is defending Band Aid’s song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” This comes after artists criticized the song, claiming its colonial implications on Africa perpetuate harmful stereotypes about the continent.
The Christmas collaboration song was written in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure. Fuse ODG and Ed Sheeran criticized the song for its message.
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Fuse ODG criticized the track
The Ghanaian-English rapper Fuse ODG spoke about his dislike of the hit Christmas song, which was originally written to raise money to help with the Ethiopian famine in 1984.
The rapper responded to the song by releasing a track titled We Know It’s Christmas.
The artist urged people to stop spreading the song
With the release of his response track, Fuse ODG also urged the BBC to stop promoting Do They Know It’s Christmas?
The rapper explained his views on this, saying that it creates a false generalized image of the diverse continent of Africa.
Ed Sheeran seems to have a similar view
The singer Ed Sheeran has also stated that he would have “respectfully declined” any permission to use his vocals on the popular Christmas song by Band-Aid.
Other artists criticizing the song include Lily Allen and Damon Albarn.
Bob Geldof responded to the criticism
Singer and songwriter Bob Geldof who worked on the track Do They Know It’s Christmas? responded to criticisms it received regarding generalizing the living state of Africa.
“It’s a pop song ffs. There IS endemic hunger due to the unforgiving soil conditions. Water IS scarce save for a scattering of unreliable wells. Rain IS increasingly unreliable,” Geldof said.
The singer proceeded to defend the song
“These are not ‘colonial tropes’ they are empirical facts… Climate change affects the poorest first and worst. War exacerbates these conditions. Xmas IS celebrated throughout Ethiopia according to their own calendar i.e. two weeks after our holiday,” Geldof added.
Geldof said the song saved hundreds of thousands
The artist defended the song, saying, “This little pop song has kept hundreds of thousands if not millions of people alive.”
Geldof also added that Band Aid has donated today “enough cash to feed a further 8,000 children in the same affected areas of Ethiopia as 1984.”
The song aimed to raise funds for relief
Geldof further mentioned Band Aid’s donation of “hundreds of thousands of pounds” to other African nations suffering today, namely Sudan.
Do They Know It’s Christmas? has seen more than one version since its release in 1948, and an upcoming Ultimate Mix of the song is set to be released in 2024 for its 40th anniversary.
The conversation came after Sheeran posted on Instagram
With the 40th anniversary version of the song coming out this year, the conversation had started when Sheeran took to his Instagram saying, “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.”
Sheeran also mentioned Fuse ODG’s stance on the song
On Instagram, Sheeran proceeded, “A decade on, and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, as eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I’m hoping it’s a forward-looking one. Love to all x.”
Fuse ODG has also rejected the offer to be on the 2014 version of the song.
The rapper explained his views on TV
“Yes, there was an issue and there were good intentions to raise money to help but my problem is the long term effect of trying to help this crisis. There was one crisis in one country, but it painted a whole image of Africa,” Fuse ODG told Good Morning Britain.
