Nice one Bono

Africa like Ireland under British - Bono

Bono at the conference on African Development
U2 frontman Bono has compared Africa's economic woes to Ireland's problems under British rule.

Speaking at a development summit in Japan, the singer said Ireland had been forced "to deal with the British" under colonisation.

England's Henry II claimed sovereignty over Ireland in the 12th century.



It was colonised in the 17th century plantations and did not gain independence until 1921, with Northern Ireland created by the 1920 Government of Ireland Act.

Bono said Ireland's economic success could act as an inspiration to end Africa's poverty and food crises.

On Thursday, he told delegates at the summit in Yokohama: "What on earth might I have to offer? Well, the first thing is I'm Irish.

"We came out of colonisation, we had to deal with the British, we have a lot in common with Africa."

The audience, which included Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and 40 African heads of state, applauded his speech.

Bono said while Ireland now enjoyed some of the world's highest salaries, he added: "Twenty years ago, our economy was down the toilet, the IMF were telling us what to do and the World Bank were down our pants."


The U2 frontman met Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura

The singer blamed the 19th Century Irish famine on food being transported to England while people continued to starve to death in Ireland.

It is believed that about one million people in Ireland starved in the 1840s after the failure of the potato crop.

Hundreds of thousands of others emigrated during the disaster, sparking a worldwide Irish diaspora.

Bono told the delegates: "So bad management is in my folk history and I think if we have to gather around this food crisis... we've got to get good management."

scruff321 wrote: »

ok i know bono is a bit preachy but calling him a twat is ridiculous irish people just have a problem with so called "do gooders":rolleyes: