He is respected for many attributes; a brilliant soldier and a skilled diplomat. But General Colin Powell a hip hop and happening rap star? That's not a description you would expect to hear.

Until last night, that is, when the former US Secretary of State climbed on stage of the Royal Albert Hall and surprised audiences with an impromptu hip hop dance and song.

Still wearing a buttoned up suit the statesman performed with Nigerian group Olu Maintain and did a version of the Nigerian dance Yahoozee. He even took the microphone to sing lyrics and showed a natural rhythm as the pop stars taught him their dance moves.

General Powell, who was the first black Secretary of State and so far the only black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was attending the Africa Rising festival, a showcase for African music and fashion.

He told the audience: “I stand before you tonight as an African American. Many people say to me, ‘You became Secretary of State of the USA, is it really necessary to say you are an African American, or that you are black?’ And I say yes, so that we can remind our children. It took a lot of people struggling to bring me to this point in history. I didn’t just drop out of the sky, people came from my continent in chains.”

Adding: “There’s no reason a new Africa can’t be created right here and now,” General Powell climbed on stage and performed the Nigerian Yahoozee dance.

Nduka Obaigbena, the organiser of Africa Rising, said: “I never thought I would see Colin Powell dance Yahoozee, he showed that common touch.”

The pop star Christina Aguilera and the soul singer Seal also performed.

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