Celebrating Africa in Vanity Fair

The budget of a relatively cheap Hollywood blockbuster movie, $150 million, could buy enough mosquito netting to help prevent 30 million Africans from contracting malaria.
From the cover of the July 2007 issue of Vanity Fair which pairs actor Don Cheadle and US Senator Barack Obama

The July 2007 issue of Vanity Fair is completely dedicated to Africa. In an unprecedented move, readers can select a different cover of this issue edited by Bono and which features a photo (by Annie Leibovitz) of a pair of some of the people who are currently using their clout to make a difference on the continent. They are – Barack Obama, Muhammed Ali, Her Majesty, Queen Rania of Jordan, Bono, Condoleezza Rice, President George Bush, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Brad Pitt, Djimon Hounsou, Madonna, Maya Angelou, Chris Rock, Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Jay Z, Alicia Keys and Iman.

The content of each issue with a different cover is the same and includes contributions from former president Bill Clinton, Sheila Roche (head of communication for Bono’s Product (Red), Tom Freston (former president and CEO of Viacom) who discovers West African Music in Mali, Binyavanga Wainaina (author and journalist) who writes on Generation Kenya andYoussou N’Dour (Senegalese recording artist).

Writing in the editorial, Bono says that the aim of the special issue is to show Africa as an opportunity, as an adventure not a burden, in order to reduce the stereotypes which reduce the mesmerizing, entrepreneurial and dynamic continent of 53 diverse countries to a hopeless deathbed of war, disease and corruption.

Words are not enough to describe this exemplary spotlight being shone on our continent. Once again Bono has gone where no one has dared to go and brought out the best in Africa and Africans

• Vanity Fair July 2007 edition