Live Aid symbol weds in Ethiopian homeland

At Live Aid in 1984, Ethiopian famine survivor Birhan Woldu became a symbol of the hunger plight in Africa at just three years old. Her starving face became synonymous with the objectives of the international concert campaign, headed by Boomtown Rat Sir Bob Geldof. Recently, Geldof said of Woldu, "Birhan is the daughter of Band Aid. I feel like her stepfather." For the Live 8 reboot in 2005, Wolde appeared on stage in London with Madonna.

In an exclusive report by Britain's The Sun newspaper, on Sunday, January 10, 2010, Woldu was married to fellow famine survivor Birhanu Meresa, an agricultural worker, whom she met six years ago at an agricultural college.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Christian ceremony, which included the exchanging of rings and a blessing from a local priest, took place in Qwiha, northern Ethiopia. The bride wore a traditional white dress and veil, and the groom wore a grey suit that matched the colour of the bridesmaids' dresses.

David Stables, head of British charity A-CET, which has helped with Wolde's education, said of the wedding, "It was an elaborate and moving ceremony."

"My life is wonderful, I'm so happy, Birhanu's a lovely man," Wolde told The Sun. "I now want to have two children - one girl and one boy - for my life to be complete."

Source: THE SUN

PHOTO CREDIT: News Group Newspapers, Ltd.