Name at birth: Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof
Bob Geldof was the leader of the Boomtown Rats, an Irish "new wave" band of the 1970s and '80s. The group had a string of hits in the United Kingdom and broke through to international popularity with the 1979 single "I Don't Like Mondays." In 1984 Geldof turned activist, organizing 40 British pop musicians (including Sting, Bono and Paul McCartney) to record the tune "Do They Know It's Christmas" under the name Band Aid; the goal was to raise money for victims of starvation in Africa. The song was a tremendous hit and led to the mammoth twin charity concerts known as Live Aid, held in London and Philadelphia on 13 July 1985. Geldof was given an honorary knighthood in 1986 and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2005 he helped organize another day of mega-concerts, called Live 8, urging leaders of the G8 nations to forgive African debt and increase aid to the continent. Live 8, with concerts in 10 cities around the world, was held on 2 July 2005.
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Enrichment Activities
- Read about Albert Schweiter, a notable humanitarian and physician who established a mission to provide aid to Africa.
- Discuss the meaning of hunger and the effects of malnutrition with your pupils.
- Instruct pupils to research Bob Geldof and write a five-paragraph report about his music career and philanthropy.
- Enhance your teaching materials with a clip art image illustrating Africa.
- Use a map of Africa to review the geography of the continent.
- Brainstorm ways your class could provide aid to Africa.
