Beyonce marks Ethiopia millennium

Beyonce performed to 5,000 screaming fans

Pop star Beyonce has joined millennium celebrations in Ethiopia with a concert for 5,000 fans.

The concert was part of the country's year-long celebration of its 2,000th birthday according to its ancient calendar.

The star gave a two-hour performance in Addis Ababa, singing songs from her new album, B'Day.

Beyonce told screaming fans that they had been one of the best audiences of her lifetime.

Lukewarm reception

However reaction to Beyonce's opening act, multi-platinum-selling rapper Ludacris, was lukewarm from a crowd that tends to be loyal to music in its national language, Amharic.

"Rap music doesn't suit Ethiopia," said local music promoter Michael Melake.

"Ethiopians need a melody. It's all about the black American experience, and we don't relate to that." he said.

In September, at the start of the year 2000, Ethiopia's capital hosted another concert by Black Eyed Peas, but reception for the hip-hop group was also stilted.

Beyonce, who began her world tour in Moscow last week, will continue on to Romania, Turkey, India, Thailand, Indonesia and China.