Hip-hop group the Black Eyed Peas have played to a mixed audience in Malaysia after a government ban on Muslims attending the concert was lifted. The event was initially restricted to non-Muslims because it was being sponsored by beer company Guinness.

The group’s glamorous singer, Fergie, dressed down in jeans and a t-shirt for the concert in Kuala Lumpur. “I have had to change my costume,” she said before taking to the stage, “but I mean the woman’s silhouette is still there, whether it’s clothes or not, whether you see skin or you don’t”.

Frontman will.i.am told reporters he was glad the ban on Muslims attending the concert had been relaxed. “I’m so thrilled,” he said at a press conference. “When we go to Dubai, when we go to Philippines, it’s Muslims, Christians, everyone. The Black Eyed Peas is everybody‘s music. It feels so good to be able to come here and everyone’s able to see us. And we’ll be able to see everyone.”

In the end, around 5,000 fans turned out to hear the band’s hits, including Let’s Get It Started, My Humps and Boom Boom Pow. Muslims account for nearly 60% of Malaysia’s 27 million people and they are barred from consuming alcohol under Islamic laws.

Government regulations also forbid alcohol firms from organising public concerts, but the Black Eyed Peas show had been allowed in order to boost tourism. [...]

“Boom Boom Pow”:

Thanks: BBC News