Bono Urges African Aid

Bono was in Japan last week for the Fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, which actually took place in Yokohama.

While there, the U2 frontman received an honorary Doctor of Law degree from prestigious Keio University in recognition of his humanitarian work.

"I believe in this country," he told the graduating students and others at the ceremony. "The world needs your involvement."

The U2 singer urged the Japanese government to double its aid to Africa and regain its position as the world leader in overseas development, which it held for much of the 1990s.

On May 29, Bono, along with Youssou N’Dour, saxophonist Sadao Watanabe, Colombian rock singer Juanes and local R&B star Misia appeared at Yamashita Park in Yokohama with 1,500 others to form a human figure on the ground as directed by British sculptor Antony Gormley.

Overall, Bono’s participation in TICAD earned the conference more local coverage than it could have hoped to attract on its own.