Do They Know It's Simplistic?

• Share

(2 of 2)

Geldof and other Africa activists, like U2 front man Bono, are wonderful advocates for the push to cancel the continent's debt and open up Western markets to Africa's farmers. But I suggest they change their tune and come up with a hit demanding that the West drop its agricultural subsidies, cancel more debt and urge Africa's worst leaders to go. How about something like:

It's Christmas time
There's no need to block trade
At Christmastime
We can buy African and banish farm aid
And in our world of Western plenty
We can spread our wealth around
Throw out Africa's despots
At Christmastime.

Get 1.5 billion people singing along to that, and you could really make a difference in Africa.

Simon Robinson is TIME's Africa bureau chief