It might be time for a new song to raise awareness about Gaza

People line up for food as humanitarian aid continues to escalate in Gaza. [Xinhua]

Forty years ago next year, Band Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to draw attention to one of the greatest climate-induced and human mismanaged catastrophes of their time. With no breakthrough in the current violence and the UN Security Council 'diplomaticing', perhaps it is time we sang a better song for Gaza.

One million Ethiopians had starved to death by the time Bob Geldorf co-wrote and performed the song with a super band that included Kool and the Gang, among others. The song sold three million copies and raised Sh1.5 billion in 1984. Sharply criticised by pan-Africanists and long abandoned by Geldorf for the 'white saviour' narratives it fuelled in Western Europe and North America, the song nevertheless galvanised a generation to look beyond their safety and privilege to the injustices happening elsewhere.