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'Western Aid, Celebs Are Hurting Africa'

'Anti-Bono' author rips help for sapping continent's strength

By Amelia Atlas, Newser User

Posted Feb 22, 2009 5:39 AM CST

(Newser) – Dependence on celebrities as spokesmen and Western aid are bad for Africa, argues Deborah Solomon's latest interview subject, Dambisa Moyo. The Ivy-educated former investment banker argues in her new book that the culture of aid for Africa discourages entrepreneurship. "You also disenfranchise African citizens, because the government is beholden to foreign donors and not accountable to its people," Moyo tells Solomon in the New York Times.

With figureheads like Bono spearheading fundraising for Africa, celebrities "have inadvertently or manipulatively become the spokespeople for the African continent," she added. Unlike China, which used to be comparably poor but has thrived on its own dime, Africa is expected to depend on foreign aid for growth. The best solution, Moyo believes, isn't traditional aid but microfinance. "Give people jobs," she urges.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

Dambisa Moyo is a former banker at Goldman Sachs. (http://www.dambisamoyo.org)

Bono, the Irish rock star and humanitarian, talks about his efforts in the fight against AIDS in Africa during a webcast interview with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, FILE )

Bono and Arunma Oteh, a vice-president at the African Development Bank Group, present 'The Data Report 2008.' Bono called on industrialized nations to double assistance to Africa by 2010. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)

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Issuing a bond would require that the president and the cabinet ministers go out and market their country. Why would they do that when they can just call up the World Bank and say, 'Can I please have some money?' - Dambisa Moyo

There are a billion Chinese who are living in substandard conditions. Do you know anybody who feels sorry for China? Nobody. - Dambisa Moyo

I believe it’s largely aid [that has held Africa back]. You get the corruption—historically, leaders have stolen the money without penalty—and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship.
- Dambisa Moyo

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

Mr.C

Mar 7, 2009 5:12 AM CST

y? control.

AllisonMW

Feb 23, 2009 12:30 AM CST

I'm not against celebrities speaking up for Africa or other oppressed nations at all-they need to spend their time/money on SOMETHING constructive. But I've never understood why, with all of the precious commodities that Africa has, it is so poor?? Cocoa beans, produce, diamonds, oil, and so many more textiles and commodities. I'd think they just need farming/production skills, and less oppression from their government(s).

Guest

Feb 22, 2009 6:08 AM CST

The NY Times source 'article' barely says more than the Newser synopsis above. What it does say is that this African-born woman worked for Goldman Sachs until very recently, is from a very privileged background and lives in London. And her work experience involved Israel, Turkey and South Africa--hardly 'needy African nations'. I suspect she has celebrity-envy as much as anything. (Picking on Bono seems too easy. From my experience with South African elites, they love to have a good laugh over a first world do-gooder for 'not really understanding their country'--which usually means they feel pre-empted by or jealous of the celeb, although they themselves don't have the answers to their country's problems.)

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Lifestyle • World

China • Africa • Bono • aid programs • microfinance • celebrity humanitarianism • Dambisa Moyo • Deborah Solomon

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'Western Aid, Celebs Are Hurting Africa'