(Photo by SERGE DANIEL/AFP/Getty Images)
U2 singer Bono defied kidnapping threats to perform at last week’s Annual Desert Festival in Mali. Bono has involved himself with a number of causes, championing human rights and the poor before Kings, Queens, Presidents, Prime Ministers, Heads of State and other leaders worldwide. Due to the recent political climate in Timbuktu, Desert Festival officials had already increased security before any threats were revealed. Mali also deployed extra troops and military equipment to the area.
According to StarPulse.com, “U2 star Bono gave Mali’s annual Desert Festival a big boost on Thursday night by appearing on stage to launch the three-day event.” The Timbuktu-based festival is located in a former war zone and close to an al-Qaeda terrorist hub, prompting music fans to stay away in recent years. This year, organizers were criticized for staging the festival just two months after three tourists were kidnapped. Despite kidnapping threats, “a defiant Bono was among the opening acts performing for an audience made up of lucky tourists, nomads and local music lovers.”
Here’s a look at Bono helping kick off the festival:
A 2005 cut featuring Bono for Make Poverty History:
And Bono doing what he does best:
Enjoy almost 2 hours of U2 at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival:
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