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WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House was throwing one of its biggest-ever state dinners for Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday night, and catering to the African leader’s tastes by showcasing two uniquely American types of music: gospel and country. Long lines of guests arrived to a red carpet rolled out at the booksellers area of the White House, which was also decked out with red roses and hot pink orchids while Toto’s hit “Africa” played on violin. Invitees included actor Levar Burton of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fame, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, the ex-secretary of state and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee and her former top aide Huma Abedin.

Other actors on the guest list were Wilmer Valderrama and Sean Penn, as well as actor and filmmaker Michaela Coel and assorted Democratic leadrers, among them Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Kate Gallego, the mayor of Phoenix. Singer-songwriter Don McLean arrived in an early wave of guests, as did Barbara Kingsolver, author of “The Poisonwood Bible” which is set in Africa.



Asked what about the continent inspired her, Kingsolver replied “everything.” Other attendees included the former contestant on TV’s “Top Chef” Kwame Onwuachi, and top Democratic donor Mark Gallogly. Sheryl Sandberg, who helped to transform Facebook from a tech startup into a digital advertising empire, philanthropist Melinda Gates and H.

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