Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, U2 frontman Bono said that governments in wealthy countries that had promised to help Africa should come good on their offers.
He challenged political and business leaders to keep the pledges they made in 2005.
"There were some serious promises made. The checks were signed but as you know, politicians like signing checks but they don't like cashing them," Bono told reporters.
At the 2005 Gleneagles G8 summit promises were made to cancel the debts of 18 low-income countries and that African aid would be doubled to about $47 billion by 2010.
"Two years on, it's time to take the temperature," Bono said. "If those promises are not kept... it will make a generation of cynics. I don't believe that's going to happen, I am optimistic we're going to get through this."
