why did they sing we are the world

They sang "We Are the World" in 1985 as a charity single to raise funds for famine relief in Africa, particularly for the devastating 1983-1985 Ethiopian famine. The song was created by the supergroup USA for Africa, consisting of more than 45 of the era's most popular singers, who came together to use their music for humanitarian aid. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones. The goal was to create an anthem that would unite people worldwide to help those suffering from hunger and raise money for relief efforts. The song was inspired by the success of the British charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and was meant to be a timeless anthem of hope and unity, not tied to a specific season. The project raised over $60 million and became a symbol of the power of music and celebrity collaboration in addressing global crises.