"A Christmas Message to America"

The text of a message sent to the American people on BBC radio, Christmas Day, 1937, while His Imperial Majesty was in exile in England.

Chuck Foster finds a return to traditional Rasta values in music from Junior Reid, Mikey Dread, Jahmali and Yami Bolo. New releases from Gregory Isaacs, Gondwana, Singing Melody, Beenie Man, Sizzla, Jah Mason, Al Campbell, live recordings from Michael Rose, Yellowman and Third World, a fistful of dub albums and reissues, and many more are covered.

Bob Tarte welcomes the return of Senegal's Orchestra Baobab, facilitated by World Circuit producer Nick Gold; Ruben Blades' new world music album, Mundo, is hailed; Cuba's Eliades Ochoa states he feels better than ever, and Tuvan punk-rockers Yat-Kha is back.

Mr. Music makes sense of Cuban hip-hop and spins a compilation of late-'80s English reggae called Watch How the People Dancing. Algerian Kad Achouri, Venezuelan band Guaco, Gilberto Gil's Marley masterpiece and Mozambiquan veteran Dilon Djindji take a turn on the dance floor.

The second Caravana Cubana production features classic sounds and veteran Cuban musicians; new releases from Azuquita, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Wayne Gorbea and Celso Pina illuminate the night.

Robert Ambrose ponders the role of African music and its status in world culture, starting with the indigenous traditional music preserved by the Nonesuch Explorer: Africa series, from which African pop by artists such as Salif Keita is derived. The new Youssou N'Dour album and two reissues of his work, a double cd from Thomas Mapfumo and a classic reissue, and two from Zimbabwean mbira masters Ephat Mujuru and Stella Chiweshe are reviewed.

Martin Sinnock defines the true meaning of soukous, making the point that most Congolese music should not be labeled as such. The career of Congolese singer Evoloko "Lay Lay" Atshuamo is outlined, and another edition in the "100 Essential Congolese CDs" series features Evoloko's Mingelina B52 album.

"Musical Murder" features Shaggy's Lucky Day, Tony Curtis' Stronger, 3 Canal, Trinity, Junior Reid, Rasta Government and Sherwin Gardner's Leaning; plus a truckload of dancehall compilations.

Deep desert blues from female Gnawa wedding musician Hasna el Becharia, Tuareg band Tinariwen, and Tunisian oud artist Anouar Brahem warm up the chilly Sahara.

Roger Steffens bids farewell to reggae stalwart DRO, reviews a new book by Ras Zuke, The Rastaman Vibration, and notes release of latest album by California reggae band Groundation.

The sounds of the "alphabetical islands" of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao are explored in the ABC Island Primer; Curacao's Izaline Calister is interviewed. Zouk artist Tony Chasseur discusses his accolade to the islands of the French Antilles, Diamant des Iles.

Steve Heilig remembers seeing Peter Tosh perform live, his memory jogged by the reissue of the 1983 Los Angeles concert recording, Complete Captured Live; dubs it up with Yabby You, King Tubby and Joe Gibbs; notes live sets by Caetano Veloso, Vinicius de Moraes and Manu Chao; and takes a swing through Africa with recordings by Salif Keita, Dilon Djindji, Fra Fra Sound, Tinariwen and Hugh Masekela.

Brazil Beat posse Mara Weiss and Nego Beto note the cannibalistic tendencies of Brazilian artists, notably Lenine and his latest album, Falange Canibal; Eliane Elias brings out a new collection of originals; updates on Paralamas do Successo and Grupo Afro Reggae.

Steve Heilig reviews books on Brazil's Tropicalia movement: Caetano Veloso, Tropical Truth, and Christopher Dunn, Brutality Garden

Lee Perry, Baffling Smoke Signal, by Mark Gorney

Otha Turner and the Afrossippi Allstars, From Senegal to Senatobia, and Ben Allison, Peace Pipe, by Ron Sakolsky

Gilberto Gil, Kaya N'Gan Daya, by Steve Heilig

Old to the New: A Steely & Clevie Tribute to Joe Gibbs Classics, by Rebecca Levine

Video review: Reggae Nation: Island Movement Vol. 1, by Michael Kuelker