The head of a leading African AIDS charity has blasted philanthropic efforts by the likes of Bob Geldof and Bono for helping to increase problems in the continent instead of relieve them.

Jobs Selasie, from African Aid Action, claims campaigns like Geldof's Band Aid, Live Aid and Live 8 do well in raising money for their cause, but ultimately only serve to increase corruption and make Africa more dependent on foreign aid.

According to African Aid Action, the number of people surviving on charity handouts has risen five-fold since 1984's Band Aid campaign, while African governments are now relying on contributions to make up 70 per cent of their annual budget - up from the previous 20 per cent.

And Selasie has called on Africans to do more to better their own situations.

Selasie says, "Aid has failed because campaigners, charities and governments do not have the right plan and excluded African entrepreneurs and grassroots organizations from being part of the solution. You can't impose change from without (outside). It has to come from within and we won't end poverty with handouts. Africans need to fight corruption and work hard."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)