Music: After criticism: Bob Geldof defends Band Aid campaign

Irish pop star Bob Geldof (73) defended his Band Aid campaign shortly before the 40th anniversary of the first release of the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas”.

“This little pop song has kept millions of people alive,” he said in an interview with the Sunday Times. He added: “Why should Band Aid stop feeding the thousands of children who depend on us for a meal?”

Does Band Aid cement negative images of Africa?

Geldof was responding to criticism from pop star Ed Sheeran (33), who preferred not to have the latest version of his contribution to the super band Christmas hit recorded in 2014 included. On Monday, an Ultimate Mix featuring voices from the 1984 original as well as the 2004 and 2014 reissues will be heard on BBC Radio for the first time.

Sheeran had referred to the Ghanaian rapper Fuse ODG as his reason. He accuses the initiative of cementing a negative image of Africa in the world, which is costing the continent economic growth, tourism and investment.

Band Aid generated 168 million euros in donations

Geldof described this as an “abstract prosperity world argument” that had nothing to do with reality. “There are 600 million people in the world who are hungry – 300 million of them are in Africa. We would like it to be different, but it isn’t,” Geldof said.

The frontman of the Boomtown Rats (“I Don’t Like Mondays”) wrote the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” in 1984 in response to reports about the famine in Ethiopia at the time. Sung by a whole host of stars such as George Michael, Phil Collins, Sting, Boy George and many others, it became a huge hit. Since then, Geldof says his Band Aid initiative has generated more than 140 million pounds (around 168 million euros) in donations.