LONDON (Reuters) - The line-up of stars in Bob Geldof's Live 8 concert for Africa in London was criticized by Brit artist Damon Albarn on Friday for being "too damn Anglo-Saxon."

Twenty years after his original Live Aid shows, Irish rocker Geldof has announced concerts in London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Edinburgh and Philadelphia to urge world leaders meeting in Scotland next month to make big strides toward alleviating African poverty.

But critics say not enough black and African stars are taking part in the London event.

"It's just too damn Anglo-Saxon," singer Albarn told BBC radio on Friday. "If you're holding a party on behalf of people you don't shut the door on them -- it perpetuates this idea that Africa is separate."

The Blur frontman said he would not be taking part in Live 8 and called the paucity of African and black artists on the bill an "oversight" on the part of the organizers.

" doesn't make you feel any closer to Africa," he added, "it treats it like it is a failing, sick, tired place."

The issue has even reached the British parliament, with Diane Abbott -- the country's first black woman legislator -- tabling a motion urging the Live 8 organizers "to include in this commendable effort those very people it is trying to help."

U.S. rapper Snoop Dogg and Britain's Ms Dynamite are the only major black acts appearing in London and Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour is the only major African singer taking part in any of the concerts.

London will be headlined by Paul McCartney, Madonna, Elton John and U2.

Geldof, dubbed "Saint Bob" by the media for organizing the 1985 concert to save the starving in Ethiopia, has defended the line-up, saying the artists involved were those best-known in G8 countries and therefore best placed to raise the profile of the event and amplify pressure on world leaders.

Fellow organizer Midge Ure told a news conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday that Live 8 was trying hard to put African artists and issues at the center of the events, particularly in the Edinburgh concert which takes place on July 6, four days after the others.

"There always was going to be an African influence on what was going on," he said.

One music industry insider told Reuters he felt the issue was being blown out of proportion.

"The reality is that these are the artists who sell the most tickets." he said. "If you want to do something worthy that will get a paragraph in the press -- if you're lucky -- then fine but if you want this to be high profile then these are the people you need."

"The reality is that these are the artists who sell the most tickets." he said. "If you want to do something worthy that will get a paragraph in the press -- if you're lucky -- then fine but if you want this to be high profile then these are the people you need."

Funny he says that considering that they aren't selling any tickets to the event, they're giving them away. But I agree that the legendary lineup has generated a ton of buzz which fuels their cause. And I don't think the exclusion of African performers was intentionally done.

Um, did he even GLANCE at the Philly line up?

I'm scared to death that this city is going to embarass itself. WHAT are the Jay-Z fans going to do while waiting though Sarah McLachlan?? Are they really going to be in the 'concert spirit' and cheer for bon jovi? This is a serious recipe for disaster. I'm glad PJ isn't playing, and if they were, you wouldn't catch me anywhere near the art museum.

Nice.
But guess who will still be watchingthe TV from the safty of her couch?

Nice.
But guess who will still be watchingthe TV from the safty of her couch?

Why is this a recipe for disaster? Hello Lollapalooza had Ice Cube, PJ, and Ministry. If those aren't 3 very different types of audiences then I don't know what is.

Guess who'll be not paying attention to this "event" at all and will simply download the torrent of Eddie's set when it becomes available?

Guess who'll be not paying attention to this "event" at all and will simply download the torrent of Eddie's set when it becomes available?

oo... how long do you think it'll take for that to go up?

Within 24 hours.

You know what would be Awesome though - and so appropriate? Since it's just Ed - if he brought over the South African High School choir for it. I think it would be mind blowing - and really cool if Ed did his 3 songs with them and then let them take center stage for the rest of the set.

Yeah that would be really cool. Then I wouldn't even have to bother downloading the torrent!