Jolie is surprise guest at Eden

Angelina Jolie brought her son Maddox to Saturday's concert

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie made a surprise appearance at Cornwall's Live 8 concert, held in the domes of the Eden Project on Saturday.

The self-confessed fan of African music said she was "very excited" to be at the Africa Calling event.

The concert, hosted by Peter Gabriel, was announced amid criticism that Live 8 featured too few black artists.

Artists from across Africa performed. Senegalese star Youssou N'Dour said it was Live 8's most important concert.

We can fix what's happening in Africa Angelina Jolie Click here to see more pictures of Africa Calling at Eden

Jolie, who was flown by helicopter to the Eden Project, was introduced to the crowd by Peter Gabriel as a great supporter of African causes.

She said: "It's really great to be here on this very special and important day.

"I'm thrilled to meet all the African artists.

"All of the concerts are wonderful but I feel very connected to celebrating the people of Africa, so this one is special to me.

"We can fix what's happening in Africa, we do have the answers and the ability to stop them dying."

The actress said she was "amazed" by the biomes at the former clay pit at Bodelva, near St Austell.

Youssou N'Dour and Dido performed at Eden after Hyde Park

She said she planned to visit Eden again with her son, Maddox, who accompanied her to Saturday's concert where Somalian singer Maryam Mursal and vocalist Angelique Kidjo, from Benin, performed.

Thomas Mapfumo, Akim El Sikameya, Angelique Kidjo, and Senegal group Daara J also appeared.

Daara J said: "We are honoured to play at Live 8's Africa Calling. We wish to bring a little part of Senegal to the world and to bring the Live 8 message back to Senegal."

Africa Calling came after criticism that Bob Geldof had not included enough African artists in the main Live 8 line-ups.

Eden show compere and Womad co-founder Peter Gabriel said he thought the music would have inspired people.

He said: "I did understand Bob's position that if any artists that people are unfamiliar with, if they were African, American, or wherever, would make people turn off."

Walking with dignity

He added: "I didn't believe that was the case. I thought that people would think that this music was so good that they wouldn't switch off. But that was the argument."

Youssou N'Dour, who had earlier performed at Hyde Park with singer Dido before they both came to Cornwall, said the Eden show put African voices at the forefront of the campaign.

He said: "This gig was very important.

"What I think Peter Gabriel and Womad and all the people working really hard did was to have this for African people to show we're ready to walk with everybody and have dignity."

He and Dido then went on to perform at the Paris Live 8 event.

A firework finale ended Cornwall's Live 8 contribution after a 10-hour performance.

More than 35,000 people applied for the 4,200 tickets available for the Eden show.