Band Aid 40 reinforces harmful stereotypes and colonial attitudes - Bond statement

Following reports of the upcoming release of the Band Aid 40 single next week, blending previous recordings of the original 1984 Band Aid song “Do they know it’s Christmas?”, debate has reignited around the portrayal of Africa, international charity and fundraising, and development. In light of recent comments from artists such as Ed Sheeran and Fuse ODG, Bond has responded with the following statement:

Lena Bheeroo, Head of Anti-racism and Equity at Bond said:

Band Aid 40 reinforces harmful stereotypes that undermines the African continent and disempowers local communities. It risks undoing the progress made by the international development and humanitarian sector to shift power to local communities and address enduring injustices of colonialism and systemic racism.

Many in the UK international development sector have made concerted efforts in recent years to build trust by repairing harmful legacies with low-and middle-income countries and confronting historical crimes against humanity, including those through enslavement.* While there is still much to do to decolonise the sector, initiatives like Band Aid 40 perpetuate outdated narratives, reinforce racism and colonial attitudes that strip people of their dignity and agency. We encourage Band Aid 40 to rethink and reconsider the messages they are amplifying.

ENDS.

Notes for editors

The UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has acknowledged “that slavery and the slave trade are a crime against humanity”.
In 2019, Bond published Ethical Storytelling guidelines for NGOs that cover the process of filming, photography and interviewing, as well as the selection and use of images and stories of individuals and communities in an ethical, sensitive and respectful way. They urge NGOs to put contributors at the centre of NGO image-making; to recognise contributors’ rights, and to consider our responsibilities towards them while gathering and using their images and words for communications purposes. This is also relevant for media organisations and picture desks. An updated version of the guidelines will be published in the coming weeks.
In 2023, Bond published Anti-racism and decolonising: a framework for organisations which maps out how racism cuts across NGOs and shows the necessity of an anti-racist and holistic approach to decolonising our organisations to create a fairer, more equitable and racially just sector.
Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07392972411.