Whilst one cannot deny the general good Bob Geldof does in challenging us as consumers, to dip our hands in our pockets, and political leaders to change policy, however, by not having a reasonable representation of black, particularly African, artists, it does smack of paternalism.

I’m sure it’s not his intention to be patronising. However, he has to take cognisance of the sensitivities of the black people he’s put himself out to help. He may not have many black artist pals in his address book, but that can not be an excuse for a man who’s proved so resourceful in getting the impossible done, once he’s put his mind to it. 

Hey, on the other hand, soul music’s being represented by Joss Stone, and jazz by Jamie Callum. On a more serious note - there is nothing stopping black artists doing their own thing.

We don’t have to wait for our black superstars, because many of them are preoccupied with materialism – the money they spend on their bling-bling lifestyle could help many an African family or community. The only major black-led initiative that comes to mind was the one-off We Are The World project by American artists, such as Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie.

Those with a heart and a burning passion should remember that there is virtue in doing things on a grass-roots level – everything does not necessarily have to be at the same level of Band Aid, Live Aid or Live8. It can still be a worthwhile exercise without – it’s doing something sincerely that matters, not offering to come on board only because media coverage is guaranteed, which I believe is the main motivation for many of the artists we see on Live 8 and its ilk.

Of course there may be some black artists or music industry people doing or planning things on similar lines as Bob Geldof. In which case, the Black Music Congress would be grateful if they can feed that information into its next meeting on June 25 at City University London entitled ‘British Black Music: Where Is It At? Cause For Celebration Or Lament?’