There are so many tragedies in the world – racial hatred, war, collapsed economies, environmental crisis.. that it can be overwhelming to the point of numbing. This is especially true when the crisis is far away and of such proportion that we can’t begin to grasp it. For to do so would simply be too horrifying to face. Could this be the case with the current famine and crisis in Somalia?
The growing famine in the Horn of Africa that, according to the UN, threatens 11.6 million people. In southern Somalia – considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world – severe drought, compounded by decades of conflict, have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee from their homes. In neighboring Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp, more than 380,000 people are living in facilities originally built to house 90,000. The U.N. says more than 3.2 million Somalis need food aid. The U.S. says 29,000 Somali children under age 5 have died.
Yet, few people are talking about it; the media is treating it like a back page story and governments have been slow to respond. Bono and K’Naan have joined forces to try to change that: reaching out to media, the UN, aid organizations and you and I to stand up and take notice, and hopefully some action.
It may be that a song may not be the solution to a tragedy of this degree, but these artists are using their musical fame and global stage, along with the spotlight and influence they can create, to make a real difference. Bono and his One organization are working directly with policy makers, media, aid organizations and strategists to come up with real solutions – both immediate and long term. And, as I write this, K’Naan is currently on the ground in his homeland Somalia to meet firsthand with his struggling people, to bring a glimpse of hope to what seems hopeless, and to unite forces with those that might provide the resources necessary to bring the crisis under some degree of control.
K’Naan has always been outspoken on behalf of his homeland, but he is being called to step into a much bigger set of shoes to address the problem today. At least with friends like Bono, and their ability to reach the world’s ears with their words and music, he might finally be heard and joined by others.
