The 1985 charity anthem ‘We Are The World,’ penned by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, became a global phenomenon, raising over $80 million (equivalent to $214 million today) for African famine relief, particularly in Ethiopia. The USA for Africa foundation, established by Ken Cragan, spearheaded the effort. But decades later, questions persist about the tangible, long-term impact of these millions.

Initial efforts saw cargo jets departing with food, medicine, and clothing for Ethiopia and Sudan, with figures like Harry Belafonte representing the star-studded musical coalition on the ground. However, the optimism soon confronted the brutal complexities of the Ethiopian crisis.

Criticism emerged that the campaign oversimplified the famine, portraying it as a natural disaster. Lyrics like “Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow” from the related Band-Aid effort overlooked that the famine was a multifaceted issue rooted in poverty, drought, disastrous agricultural policies, and critically, the use of hunger as a weapon by Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam’s Marxist Derg regime in its counterinsurgency efforts.

The Derg, which overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974, engaged in constant warfare against various opposition and separatist groups. Its “land to the tiller” policy, coupled with mismanagement, corruption, and scorched-earth military tactics, devastated food production. Dr. Elizabeth H. Bradley of Yale University noted that crops and food stores were “systematically destroyed by military offensives.” Enormous military expenditure, backed by Soviet arms and advisors, diverted resources from famine prevention.

The Reagan administration, wary of bolstering a Soviet stronghold, initially kept “hands off,” aware of the disaster but accusing the Ethiopian government of selling U.S. grain to Russia for military supplies.

The harrowing BBC reports by Michael Buerk in October 1984, describing a “biblical famine,” galvanized Western musicians like Bob Geldof (Band-Aid) and subsequently Belafonte for USA for Africa. However, many involved lacked a deep understanding of the geopolitical intricacies and the Mengistu government’s manipulation of the crisis.

A 1986 Spin magazine article exposed grim realities: aid money was allegedly being used by Mengistu to buy sophisticated Soviet weaponry, transforming Ethiopia into one of Africa’s best-equipped armies. Logistical nightmares ensued. Food and medicine reportedly rotted on docks as military hardware was prioritized. The government’s refusal to divert vehicles from war efforts or allow aid into rebel-held northern areas, where 60% of famine victims lived, meant supplies were confiscated to pay soldiers or traded for arms.

Political writer Bonnie Holcom described aid as “bait and a trap” in government resettlement programs, citing an incident where soldiers invaded Korem relief center, rounding up hundreds of peasants for forced relocation or military service.

Faced with these controversies and the lack of effectiveness, USA for Africa, under executive director Marty Rogel, shifted its approach. Ken Cragen acknowledged the limitations of short-term fixes, stating, “it would be like putting a bandaid over a serious wound.” The focus moved to long-term programs promoting self-reliance, including birth control, food production, agriculture, water management, and manufacturing in seven African nations, including Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Senegal. Cragen estimated it would take 10-20 years to make even a “slight difference.”

Further criticism targeted the campaign’s ideological legacy, arguing it inadvertently “branded Africa” as a helpless continent, stunting trade and investment despite the relatively small dent the funds made in Africa’s vast economies. Kenyan President William Ruto later emphasized, “We as Africa have come to the world not to ask for…charity or handouts, but to work with the rest of the global community.”

Despite the severe challenges and tragic death toll—1.4 million in the Ethiopian Civil War, with 1 million famine-related—USA for Africa did raise global awareness and engaged millions. A poignant testimonial after Michael Jackson’s death recalled “Michael bread,” a special bread made from distributed wheat flour in Addis Ababa, symbolizing a moment of relief during desperate times.

The Mengistu regime fell in 1991; Mengistu himself was later convicted of genocide in absentia. USA for Africa continues to operate, funded by royalties, a testament to noble intentions that grappled with the devastating realities of war, political manipulation, and the complex ethics of humanitarian aid in a conflict zone.