Mr Jackson was honoured by families of African ambassadors

Mr Jackson, 45, who is facing charges of child molestation, was presented with a golden elephant by the African Ambassadors' Spouses Association.

A pre-trial hearing in his child abuse case was taking place on Friday - but the singer was not there.

A closed grand jury is also currently looking at the evidence. The star denies all charges against him.

Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon is taking the evidence to a secret grand jury because he does not want pre-trial evidence to be heard in public.

Jackson told the audience Africa was his favourite holiday destination

If the judge decides there is enough evidence to put Mr Jackson on trial, a date will then be set for a preliminary hearing.

Friday's pre-trial hearing in Santa Monica, California, took place separately to the grand jury. Mr Jackson was not required to attend.

The pre-trial hearing involved lawyers on both sides asking for access to court documents which have been kept under wraps until now.

Mr Jackson is charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering intoxicating liquor to a child with the intent of committing a crime.

The star, who denies all the charges, is currently out on $3m (�1.6m) bail.

The star was presented with a golden elephant at the ceremony

Mr Jackson has spent the last three days in Washington DC, where he met leading black politicians before accepting his award on Thursday.

Haoua Diatta, wife of the ambassador to Nigeria, presented him with the award and he told the 200-strong audience that he enjoyed travelling to Africa.

"This is beautiful, this is a wonderful occasion, I thank everyone who came tonight and all the women of Africa," he said.

"I want you to know that I've been going to Africa since I was 12 years old and I love it very much and I take my children their for vacation. It's our favourite spot for vacation, actually."