Do They Know It's Christmas?

Happy Holidays everyone! 

I was able to spend Christmas at Hallie's site and NYE in Ouaga, so I've had a great holiday season!

Bush Taxi to Padema, Hallie's site.  Classic America shout out on the windshield. 

Our Christmas tree and stockings

While hanging at Hallie's site listening to Christmas music, we came across the classic single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"  It suddenly hit us that the lyrics to this song were  hilarious offensive, implying that Africans had no idea what Christmas was and spent the holidays suffering in ignorance.

Granted the song was released to raise money for a 1985 famine in Ethiopia.  And then re released 2 more times by The Band Aids, selling millions of  copies.  In any case, it's a good example of the many assumptions that are made about life in Africa, often by people who've never been here.  

To answer the central question of the song, YES THEY DO KNOW IT'S CHRISTMASTIME IN AFRICA EVEN IF THERE'S NOT F***ING SNOW.  They celebrate with family and go to church and get drunk, like many of us do in America.

Without further ado, here are the lyrics to that beautiful holiday song...

It's Christmastime; there's no need to be afraid
At Christmastime, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
But say a prayer to pray for the other ones
At Christmastime

It's hard, but when you're having fun
There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you
And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime

The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Oh, where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Here's to you, raise a glass for ev'ryone
Here's to them, underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime again