Ed Sheeran regrets Band Aid 40 involvement, citing Africa stereotypes.
Ed
Sheeran expresses regret over his inclusion in the 40th-anniversary version of
Band Aid, citing concerns about the song's portrayal of Africa.
London
– Ed Sheeran has revealed his discomfort with the upcoming release of the
40th-anniversary version of Band Aid's iconic charity single Do They Know It’s
Christmas?. The new “Ultimate Mix,” produced by Trevor Horn and set for release
on 25 November, blends performances from the 1984, 2004, and 2014 versions. It
features artists such as George Michael, Robbie Williams, and Sinéad O’Connor.
In
an Instagram post, Sheeran expressed that he was not consulted about this
re-release and would have preferred not to participate if given the choice. He
explained that his understanding of the song's narrative had evolved over the
past decade.
Sheeran’s
statement echoed sentiments from British-Ghanaian artist Fuse ODG, who
criticized the song’s portrayal of Africa as damaging and dehumanizing. Fuse
ODG noted that while such charity projects might raise funds, they often
reinforce stereotypes that hinder Africa’s growth and investment, promoting
pity rather than meaningful partnerships.
Since
its inception in 1984, Band Aid has raised over £150 million for
African-focused charitable causes, but criticisms have mounted over its
paternalistic lyrics. The 2014 version saw changes to some contentious lines,
including Bono’s notable lyric.
Ed
Sheeran, who is also preparing for the release of Under the Tree, part of the
soundtrack for the Netflix film That Christmas, reinforced the need for more
thoughtful representation in charity projects involving Africa.
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