Bono’s Nobel Prize

11 months ago 15th Dec 11:00

Bono - Nobel Man of Peace

Bono has been awarded the annual Nobel Man of Peace prize for his efforts to combat poverty, debt and disease in Africa.

The Irish rocker was honoured at the ceremony in Paris on Friday night in response to the U2 front man’s continuing efforts to persuade rich nations to lend assistance to the struggling continent.

The proceedings were hosted by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe and he looked on in delight as Bono told the crowd, which included fellow Nobel laureates, "This is a very big award for me, because let's be honest this is as close as I am going to get - as close as a rock star is ever going to get to the Nobel Peace Prize.

"I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star. You are the people who do the real work. So I am very, very pleased to be in such esteemed company." How modest!

Italian co-host Walter Veltroni, added, "We decided to nominate a man who has given a lot and will continue to give a great deal to the struggle for human rights, to the fight against poverty, with his music and with his words.

"He has put pressure on the world's governments to reach the UN's Millennium Goals. To give him the prize, is to say that fight will carry on."

U.S. actors George Clooney and Don Cheadle were awarded the prize last year.