Will Live Aid the Musical help Africa? 

In the 1980s, people from across the world came together to raise funds for the continent in the wake of the Ethiopian famine. 

Concerts were held in London and Philadelphia and some 40% of the global population tuned in. 

London’s Old Vic Theatre has now announced a musical based on the famous 1985 concert but opinion is divided about whether it is a worthwhile venture. 

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, caller Suzanne said she still gets emotional when she thinks about Live Aid and that the “intent was very good”. 

With that in mind, she wishes the musical all the best. 

“If it’s going to create funds for nonprofits to give back to people, I would be in favour of it,” she said. 

“If it’s just for profit for people, no.

“I’m a Live Aid fan, I watched it at the time. I’m old enough to remember and I still get a lump in my throat when I think about it because I think the intent was very good.”

Since 1985, Suzanne has since visited South Africa and found the poverty “really upset me”. 

‘It’s real people telling their stories’

Just For One Day – the story of Live Aid and the people united by it – is on sale now, with tickets from £13 https://t.co/7a0XDh6zjH#OVJFODhttps://t.co/QBpmZysDg1

— The Old Vic (@oldvictheatre) October 13, 2023

Speaking earlier to Newstalk Breakfast, Africa No Filter’ Executive Director Moky Makura said Live Aid had been “phenomenal” but it had projected a false image of the continent. 

“It was the first time we’d seen something like this,” she recalled. 

“I think it was something like 1.5 billion people in 150  countries watched it - it was phenomenal.

“There was a moment where I suddenly thought, ‘I’m from Africa’ and here we were all singing, ‘Let’s save Africa’ and all these images [were about] a broken people. 

“And I suddenly realised, there’s a huge disconnect between the Africa I grew up in, the Africa I knew and what Live Aid was showing the world. 

“That’s when I realised there is this image of Africa as a broken continent, that we lack the agency to create change, that we’re dependent.”

Main image: Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium. Picture by: Alamy.com