He said no to Bob Geldof. In 2014, Fuse ODG, the British-Ghanaian artist behind “Antenna”, announced that he would not take part in Band Aid 30, the charity single for the Ebola crisis. He said the project’s images of Africa were negative and damaging. The decision made headlines and added to his reputation as a voice for a more positive picture of the continent.
Early life and Azonto
Fuse ODG, born Nana Richard Abiona, was born in London in 1988 to Ghanaian parents. He spent part of his childhood in Ghana, attending school there before returning to the UK. Azonto, a dance style from Accra, spread through Ghana and the diaspora around 2011 and 2012. Fuse ODG’s song “Azonto” helped bring it to UK audiences. In 2013, he released “Antenna”, which reached the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. Its catchy chorus and dance made it a club hit.
His debut album T.I.N.A. (This Is New Africa), released in 2014, reflected his message of African pride and optimism.
Band Aid 30 and New Africa Nation
Fuse ODG explained his refusal to join Band Aid 30 in a newspaper article, arguing that charity campaigns often portrayed Africa only through poverty and disease. He said he supported fighting Ebola but wanted a different narrative. He launched New Africa Nation, a movement and label promoting African creativity and investment. He has also built schools and supported projects in Ghana.
He worked with artists such as Ed Sheeran, who featured on “Boa Me”, and Sean Paul. Fuse ODG was part of a wave of UK artists of African heritage who helped popularise Afrobeats in Britain before its global explosion.
Business and Ghana connections
He has encouraged diaspora Africans to invest in the continent and has spoken widely on the topic. Fuse ODG has spent long periods in Ghana, working with local artists and investing in projects there. He has spoken about the importance of the diaspora returning to build businesses at home. His sound blends Ghanaian highlife and Azonto rhythms with UK pop and dancehall, a mix that made his songs club-friendly in London and Accra.
Saying no to a famous charity record was a risk. Fuse ODG took it to make a point about how Africa is seen, and many young Africans agreed with him.
