On Wednesday evening last, Guyanese who were of a mind to, could have tuned in to a local television channel to watch, along with millions around the world, the charity show ‘Idol Gives Back’ on Fox. ‘Idol Gives Back’ is a spin off of the immensely popular ‘American Idol’, a reality show in which young talented singers compete each week for votes and judges’ nods that will keep them on until the finale. Each week, the contestant with the lowest votes is knocked off and the winner earns a contract and instant fame. The ‘give back’ spin off, now an annual event, sees celebrities highlighting various charities in America and in Africa and features a call-in segment for donations, since the aim is to raise money for these worthy causes. Some of the more difficult mini-films to watch were those shot in Africa, where poverty and its sister hunger, malaria and HIV have wreaked havoc for many years and still continue to do so. Much like ‘Live Aid’, the U2 lead singer Bono’s inspired One Campaign and sale of ‘Red’ items, ‘Idol Gives Back’ aims to raise millions, which will be used to fight poverty.
These initiatives are even more important now as it becomes obvious that development aid (not loans) is dwindling. Over the past few years, natural and other disasters around the world, which have been occurring with amazing rapidity, have all but sucked donors dry.
Funds that would have been available for development are being used to rebuild tsunami, earthquake, flood-devastated and war-torn lives. And there isn’t even sufficient for these purposes.
In the midst of all this, in Africa where the greatest needs lie, political turbulence is rumbling again, with eruptions and threatened eruptions that could easily derail these efforts and add to the already outstretched hands. Kenya, after its recent elections, is a case in point. Zimbabwe seems to be poised to take the same route.
One cannot help but wonder why. Why is it, that although practically everyone else cares, the political leaders in Africa seem immune to their people’s suffering? Can’t they that riots and wars will only add to the abject misery already present in most of Africa? The answer, unfortunately, suggests that the need for absolute power has made them blind. And not only blind, but deaf, unfeeling and uncaring.
There can be no other reason why a leader will fight tooth and nail and indulge in corrupt practices to remain a leader, when it is obvious that ruling any country, even if it is the most peaceful and prosperous nation on earth (although that would be hard to find) has to be the most stressful job in the world.
In truth, people who find it difficult to cede power always have an ulterior motive for hanging on to it. They might want their people to believe that it is because they are the best, most learned or most compassionate leaders; they may even believe this themselves, but the aphrodisiac that has them hooked is usually nothing but power. In the end, it falls to the people, if they are not completely brainwashed, to use the democratic process to get rid of such leaders; because the alternative would simply lead to more hunger and suffering.
There has to be a turning point somewhere and one hopes it is not too far down the road. If not, there will come a time when, just as how development aid is now approaching fatigue status, there will also be fewer people like the generous Bono and the Idol givers. Given what has happened in Kenya and Zimbabwe, every eye will be on the next African country that holds elections. We can but hope for a change and a pleasant surprise when that happens.
