ACCRA, Ghana - Music fans swayed and danced Saturday as African musicians jammed in Ghana's capital to support a campaign to reduce poverty across the world's poorest continent.
Some of Africa's top acts, including Mali's Salif Keita, were scheduled to play at the "Standing Tall Against Poverty" jamboree in Accra.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Ghana's native son, and ex-South African President Nelson Mandela both sent taped messages of support.
By mid-afternoon, hundreds had gathered to watch the opening showcase, a group of actors fettered as chained slaves dancing to an a cappella version of Bob Dylan's "Redemption Song."
The scheduled 10-hour festival arranged with the support of aid and civic outfits from across Africa is meant to draw attention to a U.N.-led drive to cut poverty in half by 2015.
Also scheduled to play were Seun Anikulapo Kuti of Nigeria and Ghana's Mac Tontoh.
