Few Africans watched the star-studded Live 8 gigs meant to highlight their plight but many said today any bid to relieve poverty was welcome, even faraway rock concerts performed for rich whites.
Up to 2 billion people watched broadcasts yesterday's Live 8 concerts, performed on four continents to help draw attention to poverty in Africa and press the world's most powerful leaders to cancel debt, boost aid and scrap unfair trade barriers.
Yet in Africa where most people are too poor to own a TV, only a fraction of those meant to benefit actually saw the event billed as the world's biggest concert and those who did were puzzled by endless footage of white men with guitars.
“I don't know who Bob Geldof is,” said Edward Romoki in downtown Johannesburg when asked what he thought of the man behind the concerts. “But people are speaking about poverty and there is plenty of that in Africa -- maybe a concert like this can put Africa in the news and change things.“
Maxwell Shirima, a 25-year-old who makes around $5 a day selling oranges at the side of the road in Tanzania said he had no idea there were any concerts being staged to help Africa.
“I haven't heard anything about it, but anything to help us is good,” he said.