l'Afrique, C'est chic

When I tell people that I am going into the Peace Corps in Africa, on more than one occasion, they have given me a wink and a nudge and said "So, are you going to meet Brad and Angelina?" Yes, that is exactly why I am going - for the celebrity sightings. Sigh.

Brad and Angelina are not the only stars shining a spotlight on the so-called "dark continent" - some big names, including Bono, Madonna, and even Jay-Z have recently devoted time, energy, and all-powerful dollars to support various campaigns across African countries. Celebrities bring a certain "je ne sais quoi" to whatever cause they advocate for - once they have declared an interest, the public usually follows suit, and this has proven true in the case of Africa. People have responded to their favorite stars' newfound benevolence with overwhelming support. A 2003 poll indicated that 72% of Americans strongly favor increasing or maintaining aid to Africa, up from only 48% in 1995.

A recent New York Times Fashion article by Alex Williams, ("Into Africa"), discusses this sudden celebrity inclination toward Africa and its impact on their adorers worldwide. Tourism in Africa is up, levels of issue awareness are up, and fundraising projects are happening even in the smallest of American cities. The trend has caught on in Madison, too, it seems; while thumbing through a Wisconsin State Journal, I was pleasantly surprised to see an article featuring a 15 year old girl and her father who gathered supplies for an orphanage in Kenya and then traveled there to distribute them. Whether or not they were influenced by celebrities, as Mr. Williams so eloquently put it, "...Africa — rife with disease, famine, poverty and civil war — is suddenly 'hot.'"


The optimist in me is ecstatic that high profile people have finally come around to bring attention to Africa, an area in desperate need of attention. At the same time, the skeptic in me questions how helpful the attention will be. Support for the continent is great, but is the support sustainable? Or will the support fade among fairweather Americans, like Michael Musto predicts, "as merely the cause-of-the-moment"?

Just as important as the movement's sustainability is how effective it is for improving conditions in Africa. Some may argue that it doesn't matter why people are contributing, just as long as they continue to do so. After all, in a continent where the majority of its citizens live on a pitifully meager income, every dollar counts...Or does it?

Paul Theroux (who, I would like to add, is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer), mentioned briefly in the above article, lends a critical voice to this Hollywood inspired movement in a piece called "The Rock Star's Burden." Theroux advocates, as many development economists do, for empowerment of African citizens, and homegrown change - not for "Dumping more money in the same old way..." He offers a scathing criticism of foreign aid programs, especially those begun by millionaire celebrities, and argues that it doesn't matter how much money is given if no thought is given to the idea that African countries must begin to strive for self-sufficiency. He chides, "...the impression that Africa is fatally troubled and can be saved only by outside help -- not to mention celebrities and charity concerts -- is a destructive and misleading conceit."

I find myself stuck between a rock and a hard place with these arguments. I can't help but roll my eyes at people who follow celebrities anywhere, even to Africa, but I am not entirely convinced that all of these celebrity sponsored foreign aid programs are doing more harm than good. I think one big exception to the overarching "patronizing" stereotype of foreign aid organizations is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which I see as having a lot of potential to help the continent. An organization that promises aid through treatment of diseases that plague Africa, through educating and empowering citizens, and through the building of infrastructure that will last even after the Americans go home, is, in my opinion, well deserving of every second of positive attention it gets.

The difficulty is where to draw the line between empowering and creating dependency. African countries must come to a point where they are no longer reliant on foreign aid money. According to an old proverb, "If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime." What I mean is that I do somewhat agree with Theroux in that we must stop simply giving handouts, and start doing something that will help Africans help themselves. For example, as Theroux suggests, rather than continuing to send educated Americans to teach in Africa, start training Africans to teach in Africa.

Capacity building programs like these take patience, but patience will ultimately pay off if it leads to even one village that becomes self-sufficient. However, patience is unfortunately not a virtue most Hollywood obsessed people pride themselves on. The problem with the current celebrity hype in Africa is not that it is calling attention to the problems of the continent, but that it is bringing the kind of attention that creates a race to see who can donate the most into these "money dumping" programs, precisely the kind that Theroux so emphatically denounces.

In a few years, the glitterati will likely find a new focus, and their short attention spanned fans will no doubt follow. All of the dollars hurriedly thrown at Africa, the grandiose promises of even more financial resources, and the celebrities' reservations for suites at Africa's five star resorts will be long gone...I question whether there will be any sign of them left on the continent. While I would like to be able to say in a few years that the popularity generated by stars left a positive, lasting impact, in this case, I don't think that would be optimistic, I think it would just be naive.

My usual response to the above mentioned question about Brad and Angelina is a polite smile and a quick diversion away from celebrities and back to the real reason I am called to Africa. Because I believe that people actually can make a difference, on their own, without the countless resources squandered by celebrities trying to one-up each other in their attempts at "generosity." And because I believe that the issues faced by Africa will still be important long after they are stylish.