Bono wants United States of Africa: newspaper

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — Pop star and activist Bono has called for the creation of a United States of Africa, saying that a pan-continental identity would serve as a catalyst for resolving its conflicts.

The U2 frontman, who was in Japan to take part in a major development conference last week, said that a United States of Africa "would be the dream" in the long term.

"I think a kind of broader African identity is going to be very important to deal with tribal tensions," Bono told Tuesday's Asahi Shimbun, where he served as a guest-editor for a special Africa edition on Saturday.

The Irish rock star said that developing a broader identity may seem largely "poetic," but has been proven successful.

"Irish people used to always have a little giggle when they would...