Apparently Bono represents my poor grandmother in Kenya and other women to the word stage, when it comes to representation of their plights. He advocates for more money in development from richer countries and he knows what it feels to be poor. This Bono guy was invited to address world leaders at G8 summit in Glasgow 2005 and also it is reported that president Bush did consult him on Africa issues.
Africa has her enough share of troubles and problems but the impression that she can only be saved by the likes of Bono and other celebrities is not only misleading but destructive.
Just like Bono, the wealthy Irish rock star, Africa too is no doubt wealthy and the least she needs is aid. I am not talking about humanitarian aid, disaster relief, or aids for affordable drugs. I am speaking of the "more money" platform: the notion that what Africa needs is more prestige projects, volunteer labour and debt relief. I will be a dim wit if I claim that aid has not done much not only for my country Kenya but in Africa as a continent. But this is not enough and not the way things should be. We all know what should happen, long term solutions, building people's capacity and enable citizen to be self-reliant.
As a human race, we share same aspiration; we want better health, be able to provide for ourselves and families and to create opportunities for our children. No one wants to be dependent on his/her neighbor. Unfortunately this is what aid does to Africa. It makes African governments be irresponsible for their citizens and be wasteful. Aid creates scenario where governments become dependent on hand outs and promotes bad governance.
The notion of more 'more money' has enable very able and smart Africans stop being entrepreneurs and creators of job opportunity to create what I will call MONGOS (my own NGO). This group of people has come to believe that there is a star somewhere that will negotiate and bring 'Mo-money for 'development' projects. They are happy to do 'little things' as long as they stay in business and money keep coming. There is this place called Kibera, a huge slum in Nairobi, Kenya with a thousand of MONGOS who claim to work and empower people. Whoever has been to Kibera, I will let them grade the quality of lives in that area.
Young people need employment; they want to develop and use their talents and contribute in building of nations. Projects that contribute and promotes entrepreneurship is a plus. We have read, heard and seen what microfinance ventures have done to women in Asia countries and in Africa. If this is working then why is it not replicated in wider scale? This is not the time to create music and hold hands. It is not the time for the rock stars to stand on the podia and talk 'on behalf,' it is not the time for celebrities to visit refugee camps and cry. It is time for citizens capacity be built, used for long term solutions.