But Beyonce struck a chord in Ethiopia, and the reception was hysterical when she came onstage to deliver a two-hour musical variety show. “Rap music doesn’t suit Ethiopia,” said local music promoter Michael Melake, 36. “Ethiopians need a melody. Rap music is all about the message and we don’t identify with that.

It’s all about the black American experience, and we don’t relate to that.” Local nightclub owner Enoch Nicano, 30, provided a slightly simpler explanation for Beyonce’s huge fan base in Ethiopia. “She’s hot,” he said, then paused to reconsider.