THE GIRL who 25 years ago became Live Aid’s symbol of the Ethiopian famine has got engaged.
Birhan Woldu, 28, is to marry fellow disaster survivor Birhanu Meresa – and has invited the charity gig’s hero Sir Bob Geldof to their wedding.
Last night she said: “We haven’t set a date for the wedding yet, but I would be so proud if Bob could be there.”
Birhan – who was seen close to death on big screens at the 1985 Live Aid Wembley concert – met Birhanu six years ago at an agricultural college.
She said: “My life is wonderful, I’m so happy, Birhanu’s a lovely man.
I now want to have two children, one girl and one boy, for my life to be complete.”
On Sunday, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian – dressed in white gown and veil – exchanged rings with her fiancé and received a blessing from a priest in Qwiha, northern Ethiopia.
Agricultural worker Birhanu, 29, in grey suit and bow tie, was “overjoyed”.
David Stables, 71, who runs Leicester-based charity A-CET, which has helped with Birhan’s education, said: “It was an elaborate and moving ceremony.”
Dame Claire Bertschinger – the nurse seen in famous TV footage in 1984 which inspired Bob to launch Band Aid – was “delighted” by the news.
Claire, of Sheering, Essex, said: “I’ve become close friends with Birhan – she really deserves this happiness.”
Birhan became a symbol of Ethiopia’s 1984 famine after being filmed at the age of three suffering from starvation.
In 2005, The Sun arranged for her to appear on stage with Madonna at the Live 8 concert.
Sir Bob, 58, said recently: “Birhan is the daughter of Band Aid. I feel like her stepfather.”
