Band Aid’s Festive Anthem Slammed For Its Lyrics Of “Racist And Patronising African Stereotypes”
deadline.comNearly 40 years after it topped the UK Christmas pop chart and made millions of pounds for charity, Band Aid’s charity anthem has come under fresh fire for its lyrics, which critics say perpetuate racist and patronising stereotypes of African people.
The song, Do They Know It’s Christmas? was written and recorded by dozens of the UK’s most popular pop artists in response to a devastating famine occurring in Ethiopia at the time.
It sold millions, and within a year had raised £8million ($10.1million) for humanitarian relief. It also famously kept off the top chart spot Last Christmas by Wham!, a song which finally reached the top spot this year.
At the time, that song’s writer George Michael donated all its proceeds to the Band Aid fund. But Band Aid’s lyrics have not aged well, with critics now lining up to slam what writer Indrajit Samarajiva calls “a terrible, racist song.” He writes: “It’s not just that these lyrics haven’t aged well.
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