Aguilera tops Africa Rising bill

Updated 11.17 Wed Oct 15 2008
Keywords: entertainment, showbiz, fashion, art, dance, x factor, naomi campbell, music, brian friedman, jonathan ansell, seal, christina aguilera, festival, london, royal albert hall, africa rising

Christina Aguilera was joined by Seal and Naomi Campbell at London's Royal Albert Hall for an event promoting positive images of Africa.

The Africa Rising! show marked the end of the four-date international tour that began in Nigeria and also had a date at the Kennedy Centre in Washington.

A surprise highlight was former US Secretary of State Colin Powell performing an impromptu hip hop dance

The night was rounded off with a high-energy performance by pop singer Aguilera, who was making her first UK appearance since giving birth earlier this year.

But a surprise highlight was former US Secretary of State Colin Powell performing an impromptu hip hop dance. He climbed on to the stage with Nigerian group Olu Maintain.

Still wearing a buttoned up suit, Mr Powell seemed at ease in front of the cheering crowd as he performed the popular Nigerian Yahoozee.

He even took the microphone to sing lyrics and was taught the latest dance moves on stage by the pop stars.

Africa Rising! organiser and media mogul Nduka Obaigbena said: "I never thought I would see Colin Powell dance Yahoozee, he showed that common touch.

"There's more about Africa in all you read, the people of Africa lead daily lives like you.

"We have poverty but we have good people who make money the old fashioned way and who don't get bailed out by Wall Street and Washington."

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