Three of Africa's biggest stars converged on a packed Dome for an evening steeped in the sounds of the Dark Continent.

Modeste Hugues had just stepped off the plane after a seven-hour delay in Lisbon, which led to a late start, but all thoughts of belatedness were banished as soon as the Madagascan started singing.

He delivered song titles in a throaty whisper that transformed into a soaring singing voice, husky and pure as honey across fine gravel.

Manecas Costa and his-six-piece band, all in traditional dress, provided richer, deeper vocals with the Portuguese influence of his once-colonised homeland Guinea Bissau seeping through the African rhythm.

Manipulated by deft hands, it emitted a haunting, unique sound to Costa's songs of Mandinkan heritage while remaining at once contemporary.

Mory Kante made up the third act, his million-selling dance classic Yeke Yeke having made him a household name so even people who think they don't know him nod their heads to the familiar track.

The only downer was when those possessed to leave their seats and dance were ushered to the back of the hall out of the way.