British-Ghanaian musician Fuse ODG has urged different artists to observe within the steps of Ed Sheeran and converse up in regards to the 1984 hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” which he says perpetuates destructive stereotypes of the African continent.
“Everyone’s journey is different … but it would be great that as an artist, you use your platform to effect change,” Fuse ODG, identified for hits like “Antenna” and “Dangerous Love”, stated in an interview. “I would urge other artists to take the step and speak up.”
The track, one of the vital iconic festive tunes of all time, was initially recorded by the Band Aid supergroup of music stars, assembled by rockers Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 to boost cash to struggle famine in Ethiopia.
Two variations adopted for its twentieth and thirtieth anniversaries in 2004 and 2014, that includes different teams of artists, together with Sheeran, One Direction and Rita Ora.
However, critics say the track’s lyrics paint an unfairly bleak image of Africa, describing a “world of dread and fear” the place “nothing ever grows”.
Defending the track, Geldof has stated the cash raised “kept hundreds of thousands if not millions alive” and that starvation and water shortage have been actual points and never “colonial tropes”.
It was introduced final week {that a} remix model of the track could be launched to rejoice its 40-year anniversary, that includes vocals from those that took half in earlier recordings, together with Sheeran.
On Monday, Sheeran stated his approval had not been sought on the brand new launch.
“Had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals,” he wrote on Instagram. “A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed.”
Fuse ODG stated he was additionally invited to take part in 2014 however turned it down as he believes the track and a number of the photos utilized in video clips “dehumanises Africans”.
“On the surface, it looks like he’s raising money to help a crisis, but in the long run, it’s just destroying our collective identity as Africans, and that needs to change,” Fuse ODG stated, including that it could have price African economies in the long term by dissuading potential guests or buyers.
Fuse ODG has stated there have been good intentions and that he doesn’t need folks to really feel responsible for attempting to assist, however that initiatives reminiscent of Band Aid have been rooted in historic slavery and colonialism.
“The world has a view of us that’s so distorted and negative that it validates certain actions,” he stated. “There’s a lot of unlearning and undoing that needs to be done … to really address this.”
© Thomson Reuters 2024.