Ludacris' ground-breaking gig in Ethiopia was doomed to fail, because that country's people hate rap music.

Ludacris' ground-breaking gig in Ethiopia was doomed to fail, because that country's people hate rap music.

The hip-hop star performed at the country's millennium celebrations last Saturday but only received a lukewarm response from the crowd, which cheered fellow performer Beyoncé Knowles.

Local promoter Michael Melake claims Ludacris was an odd choice for the bash because hip-hop is unappreciated in the African nation.

"Rap music doesn't suit Ethiopia. Ethiopians need a melody. Rap music is all about the message and we don't identify with that," Melake said.

"It's all about the black American experience, and we don't relate to that."

But pop superstar Beyoncé Knowles wowed the concert crowd in Ethiopia despite the fact that Western music is largely unknown there.

At the country's millennium celebrations last Saturday, the singer left more than 5000 eager fans screaming for her performance.

She told the audience: "I want to thank you. You have been one of the best audiences of my lifetime."

Knowles is travelling around the globe after she opened her world tour last week. - Wenn