The Weeknd Donated $1 Million to His Native Home of Ethiopia

The Weeknd, also known as Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, went from rags to riches, and he’s giving back to the world more than ever. The Grammy-award-winning artist is providing relief efforts to his native home of Ethiopia. 

On April 4, The Weeknd shared on his Instagram that he would be partnering with The World Food Program USA to help provide the equivalent of two million meals to the citizens of the Tigray region.

The Weeknd wrote, “My heart breaks for my people of Ethiopia as innocent civilians ranging from small children to the elderly are being senselessly murdered, and entire villages are being displaced out of fear and destruction.”

“I will be donating $1 million to provide 2 million meals through the United Nations World Food Programme and encourage those who can to please give as well.” 

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According to the United Nations (UN), Ethiopia has been in an internal conflict since November, when Prime Minister Aiby Ahmed ordered a military defense on the region’s ruling people– the Tigray People’s Liberation after they took over an army base.

The UN World Food Programme reported that “outbreak of conflict coincided with (Ethiopia’s) peak harvest season, meaning employment and incomes were lost, markets were disrupted, food prices rose, and access to cash and fuel became very difficult.”

The Weeknd is known for his philanthropic works in the past. In August, his social media manager announced that the “Crew Love” singer donated $300,000 to the global Aid for Lebanon campaign to help aid the victims of an explosion in Beirut. 

According to KCTV5, The Weeknd donated $500,000 to racial justice groups: the Black Lives Matter Global Network, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp, and the National Bail Out Collective, following the May   2020 killing of George Floyd.

He also partnered with TikTok in a live stream on August 7, where he sold limited merchandise and raised over $350,000 for the Equal Justice Initiative. 

We love a philanthropic king!