R. Kelly in Ethiopia for New Year concert
Tigrai Online
Dec. 31 2010
In continuation of the tradition by Ethiopia-born Saudi business tycoon Mohammad Hussein Al-Amoudin, Black-American crooner R. Kelly has arrived in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, to perform at a concert to ring in the Western New Year Friday night.
R. Kelly and his band, who arrived in Addis Ababa Thursday, will perform at a highly-promoted concert for the New Year Eve at Ethiopia’s top luxury hotel, Sheraton Addis.
Al-Amoudin, who has recently been named the third richest man in the Middle East and the 10th richest in the world, has maintained a tradition of bringing famous American singers to various holidays, particularly the Western New Year, paying reportedly huge sums for such performances. Popular Ethiopian singers also perform at such events.
Beyonce, Black-Eyed Peas, Sean Paul and Shaggy, among others, have performed in Addis Ababa in previous holidays.
The gate fees for R. Kelly’s concert is around US$130 per person, making it an exclusive event for the urban rich and the expatriates in Addis Ababa, as most of such events in the past had been.
Majority of Ethiopians mostly watch the live transmission of such shows by the Ethiopian television.
Ethiopians celebrate their New Year in September, but part of the urban rich and the diaspora share the celebrations of the Western New Year.