Pitt learns about Aids in Ethiopia

Brad Pitt has spent four days in Ethiopia to learn more about Aids in Africa as part of a fund-raising campaign to combat the disease on the world's poorest continent.

The trip was organised by Data, a Washington-based lobby group co-founded by U2 frontman Bono that campaigns on Third World trade, debt and HIV/Aids.

"It was a listening and learning visit," said Data spokesman Jamie Drummond, who declined requests for comment from Pitt, star of the film Troy.

While in Ethiopia, Pitt visited local projects fighting the spread of HIV, the virus that causes Aids. The 40-year-old actor also met eight top Ethiopian singers who have collaborated on songs to educate people about HIV and to raise money for Aids programmes.

Tsedenia Gebremarkos, who has just released a hit album in Ethiopia, said Pitt was keen to know how Aids had affected the nation.

"He was very humble and really interested in the situation here," Tsedenia said. "We hope his popularity can raise awareness in the same way we are trying to. We need the support of people like him."