​Not all music stars have got behind Bob Geldof's anti-Ebola crusade

The latest incarnation of Band Aid has proved to be a massive success so far, selling a million within five minutes of its release, according to the project’s supremo Bob Geldoff.

However, it has not met with universal approval in the artistic community, with one well respected figure claiming it highlights “problems with our idea of charity.”

The new version of Do They Know It’s Christmas went on sale on Monday, with all proceeds going towards the fight against Ebola in west Africa.

Pop stars such as One Direction, Ellie Goulding and Ed Sheeran took part in Band Aid 30 – marking three decades since the original, goundbreaking single was released to combat the Ethiopian famine.

There are problems with our idea of charity, especially these things that suddenly balloon out of nothing and then create a media frenzy - Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn

However, while there has been praise for the project, there have also been some notable dissenters.

Blur frontman Damon Albarn has questioned whether it is a suitable way of tackling the Ebola crisis, suggesting it may patronise the whole of Africa.

He suggested there is an inclination to frame Africa as a place constantly in need of assistance.

Albarn said: "Having been to many countries and gotten to know many people, it always seems that we have only one view of it.

"Our perspective and our idea of what helps and our idea what's wrong and right are not necessarily shared by other cultures.

“There are problems with our idea of charity, especially these things that suddenly balloon out of nothing and then create a media frenzy where some of that essential communication is lost and it starts to feel like it’s a process where if you give money you solve the problem, and really sometimes giving money creates another problem."

Albarn also suggested that the Band Aid 30 artists would benefit from travelling to Africa themselves, saying: "All those people who are making that, taking that afternoon out of their schedules, go to Africa, experience it, feel that sense of magic and maybe have a different attitude to life when you come back."

Meanwhile, British-Ghanaian rapper Fuse ODG turned down a request to take part in Band Aid 30, saying the song’s message is “not in line” with his beliefs.

He has set up his own movement TINA (This Is New Africa) to help raise the profile of Africa and Africans in a more positive way. His single of the same name is currently in the UK Top 40.

Nigerian rapper Breis described the track’s lyrics as “ridiculous, misplaced, ignorant, backwards, nauseous, spiritually malevolent and condescending” in an attack on Twitter.

Singer Adele also reportedly declined to take part.