Out of tune? Band Aid under fire for Africa tropes as it turns 40

Forty years ago this month, a group of pop stars gathered at a west London studio to record a single that would raise millions, inspire further starry projects, and ultimately change charity fundraising in the UK.

- Esther Addley

Do They Know It's Christmas?, Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's festive charity behemoth, would go on to raise almost £150m ($190m) for famine relief and development in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa. To mark the anniversary, this week a new version of the single - its fifth - was released under the name Band Aid 40.

Four decades on, however, is Band Aid doing harm as well as good? That was the suggestion of a statement made last week by Ed Sheeran, who sang on the version of the single released in 2014 and whose voice has been used in the new remix.

He had not been asked permission, said Sheeran on Instagram, and would have declined if he had. Instead, he shared a post by the musician Fuse ODG, a longtime Band Aid critic, who argues such initiatives "perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa's economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately... destroying its dignity, pride and identity".

For all Band Aid's popularity over the years, there are many in the development sector who share this view. Critics point to problematic lyrics yes, they do know it is Christmas in Ethiopia, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world - and images of nameless, helpless victims.