Ethiopians Won’t Be Known for Being Hungry Again, Prime Minister Abiy Underscores

Addis Ababa November 26/2024 (ENA) Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has lambasted the 40th anniversary re-release of the charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, calling it reductionist and dehumanizing.

Prime Minister Abiy stated modernization of the agricultural sector and other development endevours in the country  indicate that future droughts won’t be so catastrophic.

While acknowledging the well-meaning intentions behind the original Band Aid initiative, Abiy pointed out that Ethiopia has undergone substantial transformation since the 1980s. 

The prime minister's comments came amidst the release of a new version of the song, which still includes outdated stereotypes despite several attempts to modernize its lyrics.

Ethiopia would be better off if it was recognized as one of the fastest growing economies, its ancient sites were on every traveller’s bucket list, and for building the largest hydropower project in Africa, PM Abiy said.

Ethiopia has become self-sufficient in wheat production and fully substituted wheat and other cereal imports.

He argued that the song, which perpetuates images of a famine-stricken Ethiopia, fails to reflect the nation's rich history, culture, and significant progress, PM Abiy noted.

Ethiopia is now one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, with notable advancements in agriculture and self-sufficiency, Abiy pointed out.

“It is frustrating to see our nation’s ancient history, culture, diversity and beauty reduced to doom and gloom,” he said.

He also emphasized that famine does not define Ethiopia or Africa, stressing that many African nations are thriving, with vast agricultural production and rivers like the Nile and Congo shaping the continent’s identity. 

PM Abiy added that Africa is a continent of farmers who grow a lot, including 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa that goes into making the chocolate munched in other parts of the world. 

He expressed his concerns over the song’s impact on Africa's global image, stating that “famine does not define who we are as a nation or a continent,” highlighting that the historical and modern realities of Africa are far more complex than the simplistic portrayal in Band Aid.

However, Abiy countered that the focus should shift from charity-based approaches to partnerships that empower African nations to address their challenges independently.

Abiy stressed that Africa’s solutions should not come from pity but from meaningful partnerships that recognize the continent's potential for growth and development. 

In response to the re-release, Ed Sheeran, whose vocals were used in a previous version, also voiced his discomfort, stating that he would have preferred his contribution to be excluded from the latest remix.

Ed Sheeran  shared a  post about the Band Aid lyrics “perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa’s economic growth, tourism and investment... rather than partnership.”

He acknowledged that their humanitarian commitment was admirable in the eighties, however,  he underscored that a good cause that has not evolved with the times might end up doing more harm than good.