Celebrity Star Power Shines on Africa

Sept. 14, 2006 — -- Not since 1985's rallying call of "We Are the World" have American celebrities responded so enthusiastically to the woes of Africa and its people.

But there are differences.

Back then, it was the heart-wrenching image of starving Ethiopians in the grip of famine that moved marquee performers to action.

Now the problems come from all corners of a continent wracked by murderous civil war, epidemic levels of HIV/AIDS infection and death, poverty, and famine.

Today, a growing star-studded army intent on making a difference heeds the clarion call.

Among the ranks: George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Meg Ryan and Gwyneth Paltrow, Bono, Madonna, Alicia Keys, and Oprah Winfrey.

And there are many more.

"It's not that there is more interest on behalf of celebrities for Africa," said Thomas Reynolds of the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere.

"What's new is they're actually moving beyond leveraging their name for pr [public relations] opportunities. They're actually taking action and being more strategic."

The Angelina Effect

Perhaps no one has been more strategic than Oscar-winning actress Jolie.

She is so effective in her role as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees that she routinely opens doors that have been shut to diplomats and experts.

Traversing Africa with the focus and energy of the action hero Lara Croft, she advocates for the poor and powerless in Tanzania, Kenya and Namibia, where she gave birth to daughter Shiloh Nouvel this spring.

Shiloh's birth has proven to be an economic boom for Namibia -- tourism increased after Pitt and Jolie stayed there and the couple donated $300,000 for hospital maternity equipment.

"We recognize that 2 million babies born every year in the developing world die on the first day of their lives," said a statement from the couple.

"These children can be saved, but only if governments around the world make it a priority."

Jolie and Pitt then sold the much-anticipated first photos of Shiloh for a reported $4 million and made additional donations.

From 'ER' to Activist

Clooney is scheduled to address the United Nations Security Council today on the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

Last April, the actor and his TV-anchor father, Nick, took cameras into Sudanese refugee camps to record the effects of what has been described as the first genocide of the New Millennium.

"Wherever a celebrity goes, goes the paparazzi. They can make a difference by focusing the media attention on an issue," said Martin Grove, a columnist for The Hollywood Reporter Online.

"In that regard they have a great deal of power."

But it is not just about face time and star power, Reynolds says.

"I don't think this is the hip thing to do right now," he said. "I think people really care about these issues. If you talk to George Clooney, these issues really matter to him."

'Hotel Rwanda' Star Wants 'Governator's' Attention

While Clooney tries to move the hearts and minds of U.N. officials in New York today, his "Ocean's Eleven" and "Ocean's Twelve" co-star Don Cheadle will be working the Western front.

The critically acclaimed actor, who garnered Academy and Golden Globe award nominations for his riveting performance in "Hotel Rwanda," will join activists delivering thousands of protest postcards to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

They are urging Schwarzenegger to sign a bill that would divest the state of investments in Sudan.

Making "Hotel Rwanda" fueled Cheadle's interest in Africa's problems.

Last year, he joined a fact-finding delegation headed for Sudan, a journey that resulted in a special report for ABC News' "Nightline."

While in Africa, the 41-year-old actor, and producer-director Rick Wilkinson, went on to Uganda to investigate the plight of the "night commuters" -- children terrorized by rebel attacks in an 18-year-old civil war.

The result was an acclaimed short film called "Journey Into Sunset," which chronicles the dangeroustrips children take at night, seeking shelter in the cities and protection from abduction and murder and rape at the hands of rebel fighters.

More information about this film is found at www.journeyintosunset.com.

"He did all his own journalistic work. He conducted all of his own interviews," Wilkinson said. "He has spoken to Washington about this. He has written a book [about] his trip to Sudan. He is not just talking the talk."

The Power of Oprah

Incomparable success at talking -- and listening -- enables billionaire media entrepreneur Oprah Winfrey to "walk the walk" when it comes to her commitment to Africa.

In South Africa, she has created schools for girls, promised to pay for all of their college educations, and is addressing the needs of children orphaned by the AIDS crisis.

The star studded list of Africa's benefactors grows.

Gwyneth Paltrow, Alicia Keys, Richard Gere and Sarah Jessica Parker are just some of the celebrities photographed with painted faces captioned "I Am African."

The striking photos are meant to draw attention to the group Keep a Child Alive, which raises money for African children infected by HIV.

More information can be found at www.keepachildalive.org/index.php.

And when Meg Ryan stepped away from acting for awhile and began volunteering with the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, she visited slums in India and toured Africa.

When she appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last March and showed a video clip of her work, the star power was felt immediately, Reynolds said.

"After the Meg Ryan appearance, the hits to our Web site doubled for the next two weeks," he said. "That's brand placement we can't possible hope to buy. That is very valuable to organizations like C.A.R.E. [Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere]."