Ethiopia to hold "Birr for a Compatriot" concert

Ethiopia is to hold its own version of the Live Aid appeal - launched in 1984 to combat the famine which claimed a million lives. Artists and businesses are to hold a major concert and a telethon in order to raise some 14 million Ethiopian birr (US $1.7 million) for drought victims. A charity song will also be released in preparation for the festival which will take place in the capital Addis Ababa on 25 May. Selome Tadesse, who is heading the campaign called Birr for a Compatriot, told IRIN: “At the moment there is major donor fatigue and every basket is drying up." “With the current world situation we might not be the first ones on the list when it comes to aid flow, so if we do something we hope that might motivate donors," added Selome, a former spokeswoman for the government. “If we are going to get out of this situation every citizen must take some responsibility in fighting poverty,” she said. “We need to ask what are we doing ourselves – not donors – but what are Ethiopians doing ourselves.” The aim is to involve as many people as possible by selling a ticket for the concert for one birr (US$0.10). Among artists who are being contacted to perform at the festival is the British singer Sade.