The inspirational words of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie on Ethiopia's role in Middle Eastern politics, in an address to the U.S. Congress, May 26, 1954.

Ska comes out swinging with Knock Out Ska, Cocoa Tea continues the Caribbean tradition of social commentary with Feel the Power, the Gladiators stand firm. New releases from Screwdriver, Terry Linen, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Wayne Wonder, and 92 more are reviewed.

The Whale joins Bob for a cup of joe and a roast of Music from the Coffee Lands II, Siberia's Yat-Kha thaws out and the 3 Mustaphas 3 are at it again. The songs of Egyptian diva Umm Kalthum are revisited by Mahmoud Fadl, and the trail leads on to India, Bulgaria, South Africa Sweden and Spain.

On an African safari, Mr. Music cooks up a spicy stew of Cuba's Aramis Galindo, Charanga Habanera, Azucar Negra and Orquesta Tabaco y Ron with a side order of Juan Pablo Torres' Descarga Afrocuba and elephant-foot bread.

Steve Heilig interviews the elusive Ijahman Levi, a figure who embodies all that is strong and positive about reggae music. Selected discography.

Cuba's Aramis Galindo gives you what you were waiting for on Esto Tiene Cohimbre; violinist Alfredo Triff's 21 Broken Melodies at Once, Don Byron's You Are #6, Jane Bunnett's Alma de Santiago and the Rough Guide to Central America are examined.

Robert Ambrose finds solace from confusion in Baaba Maal's Missing You and Nigeria's Lagbaja. From Mozambique, Mabulu's Soul Marrabenta, Papa Noel and Adan Pedroso's Mosala Makasi and the Bhundu Boys' Shed Sessions are covered.

Martin Sinnock discusess the work of Congolese legend Verckys as heard in three compilations; Bozi Boziana's latest, Wenge BCBG, the Soukous Stars and the sweet-voiced Carlyto Lassa take a spin around the floor.

The annual Gnawa Festival in Essaouira attracts artists, practitioners and 200,000 fans from all over the world.

Countering terror with music, compilations Arabic Groove and Arabian Travels, along with Shabaz and Ray Lema's Tyour Gnawa offer some reassurance. Acoustic African music from Kekele, Baaba Maal and the Nigerian Brothers, plugged-in sounds from the SoôÄAllen and Ismaila Oussou Njie keep the departure lounge full. Side trips to Jamaica, Cuba, South America and the alien nation of California complete the tour.

Capoeira, the age-old Brazilian dance form, maintains its authenticity on Capoeira Mata Um; Jovino Santos Neto and Richard Boukas pay tribute to enigmatic jazz sorcerer Hermeto Pascoal.

Roger Steffens is back in Jamaica for the Peter Tosh Symposium at the University of the West Indies, where he attends the presentation of the Musgrave Award to Makonnen Blake-Hannah, and encounters Coxson Dodd and King Stitt at Studio One.

Back on the zouk train, new releases from Luc Leandry, Jean-Claude Porlon, Tanya St. Val are welcomed aboard, along with gwo-ka from Guadeloupe's Kan'Nida. Haitiando Vol. 2 does for compas what Africando did for Africa. Jean-Pierre Petit's "Tropiques Top Tens" lists the best zouk and kompa from his Montreal radio program on CKUT-FM.

Reviews: Peter Tosh, I Am That I Am, by Matthew Smith; Clancy Eccles' Rock Steady and Reggae Revue: At the Sombrero Club 1967 1969, by Mark Gorney; Femi Kuti, Fight to Win, by Derek Rath; Ali Akbar Khan, Indian Architexture, by Richard Henderson; Tidiane et les Dieuf Dieul, Salimata, and Famadou Don Moye, John Tchicai and harmut Geerken, The African Tapes, by Ron Sakolsky; King Size Dub Chapter Seven, by Robert Nelson; book review of Chris Salewicz and Adrian Boot, Reggae Explosion: The Story of Jamaican Music, by Ted Boothroyd. Passings: Tribute to Ephat Mujuru by Janet Planet.