The idea that there is one kind of African is of course ridiculous. Sometimes African entrepreneurs want to kill you because you are saying public health is the priority, not roads. Of course they are right to press for that issue, but so are we right, I believe, to argue for example that millions of children could and should be vaccinated.

I will admit that we are attracted to issues that unify people rather than divide them.

As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both.

Sub-Saharan Africa is also home to 400 million of the world's poorest people.

I'm a musician. I write songs. I just hope when the day is done I've been able to tear a little corner off of the darkness.

It's still very difficult for me to rely. Your weakness, the blessing of your weakness is it forces you into friendships. The things that you lack, you look for in others.

When those people get up at the Grammys and say, "I thank God", I always imagine God going, "Oh, don't, please don't thank me for that one. Please, oh, that's an awful one! Don't thank me for that - that's a piece of crap !"