Celebrities and Africa
Tuesday May 30, 2006
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed their baby girl to the world in a small hospital in Swakopmund, Namibia this past weekend. The couple pledged to give $300,000 to the Namibian hospital where the birth took place. Celebrities can do a lot to raise money for development issues in Africa and some do more than others. While Bono, Oprah Winfrey, Bob Geldof and Angelina Jolie have used their star power to bring attention to various causes, wealthy billionaire Bill Gates quietly hands over millions of dollars to try and eradicate malaria. Some people think celebrities have little expertise in the complex issues that affect Africa, but the fact is they raise a lot of money and awareness for very good causes. And when you travel in Africa you realize that it doesn't matter why people give money to refugees in Darfur, or to build new schools in Uganda, as long as they keep giving more of it.
Please vote in the poll below and let us know which celebrity you think has done the most to raise your awareness about issues in Africa.
Poll: Which Celebrity Has Done the Most for Africa?
Image of a little boy eating porridge in rural Ghana by Lauren Mong
I think that your idea of giving more as a solution is un-informed and unintelligible. Saying that people disregard this idea as it is so complex is to completely disregard what they say next. To give money in the way that you have explained it has so many cultural effects and deepens so many negative cultural understandings that I find it odd you could post such comments without clearly doing any sort of research. What is a blog worth if it is just rambling gibberish?
I’m not sure I understand your comment. I don’t think celebrities giving money to charities in Africa is the solution to ending poverty. I think celebrities who do raise awareness about issues affecting Africa are often criticized for it. Personally I’d much rather they gave their money away to raise awareness about Darfur or Zimbabwe, than spend it on another house or car for themselves.