His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on the role of the United Nations in international disarmament, Nov. 2, 1960.

Chuck Foster checks out new releases from Luciano, Toots and the Maytals, Lebanchuleh, Admiral Tibet, Mikey General, Keith Poppin; reissues and compilations from the Maytones, Gregory Isaacs, Dave and Ansel Collins, Delroy Wilson and the Gaylads, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

Bob Tarte struggles with a demonic garden hose, then relaxes with Ibrahim Ferrer's Buenos Hermanos, Sunny Ade's Best of the Classic Years, the Rough Guide to Highlife and the Indonesian series of the Nonesuch Explorer reissues. Vicki Richards, Benjy Wertheimer, Hiromitsu Agatsuma, Besh o Drom, Jony Iliev and Band and Zerkula all chime in.

Michael Turner and Larry Hacken travel to London to hunt down singer/songwriter/musician/producer BB Seaton, who made his mark with the Gaylads vocal group in Jamaica in the mid-'60s. Seaton discusses his recordings as presented to him in a "blindfold test" by the authors.

Mr. Music finds true musical nirvana recorded on the simple two track recording machine, in particular, Ethiopian Groove: Ethiopiques 13. London's JJC and 419 Squad present a unique African/Caribbean/Anglo/Yoruba party music. Grupo Caribe, Los Afro-Salseros de Senegal, Nicolas Menheim and Jovenes Clasicos del Son take a turn on the dance floor.

A salute to Bobi Cespedes' funkloric approach to the traditional music of the orishas, new recordings by John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Amadito Valdes, George Maysonet, Hermanos Izquierdo, Ronny Cabarrocas, Orquesta La Criolla and Gerardo Rosales, and a fond appreciation of the late Mongo Santamaria.

Martin Sinnock reviews the newly issued Franco and OK Jazz compilation Le Folklore de Chez Nous, then moves on to the contemporary sounds of Werra Son and Wenge Musica Maison Mere. Papa Wemba's DVD release, Live au Stade des Martyrs is evaluated; one more item in the continuing series of "100 Essential Congolese CDs", Le General Defao, La Saga de Defao, is analyzed.

Buju Banton's latest, Friends For Life, Christian raggamuffin, and British lovers rock and dub productions, plus a trailer-load of dancehall compilations.

North Africa's undisputed diva and pan-Islamic icon, Oum Kalsoum, is the subject of two box-set collections; Habib Koite and Bamada of Mali have captured Stephen Davis' ear with passionate with African soul and blues connections.

Elizabeth McAlister, Rara! Vodou, Power and Performance in Haiti and Its Diaspora, by Steve Heilig

Roots Knotty Roots: The Discography of Jamaican Music, 2d ed., by Ken Bilby

Roger Steffens experiences Tony Rebel's Rebel Salute concert first-hand in JA, and then encounters the far side of the Outer Limits with an "upsetting" visit to Lee "Scratch" Perry's Black Ark lunatic asylum and space station.

Brian Dring finds the Afro-Caribbean culture of champeta in Colombia; gets into the Haitian twoubadou sound as well as Haitiando, Haiti's answer to Africando with a Latin twist on compas; and notes Jephte Guillaume's progressive experiments with Haitian roots traditions on Voyage of Dreams.

Steve Heilig pays tribute to the late Mongo Santamaria, then celebrates new and reissued recordings by Burning Spear, spins sounds from Third World, the Maytones, Horace Andy and Cornell Campbell. A tip of the hat to Adrian Sherwood and the Dub Side of the Moon, and then he's off to West Africa for some Sunny Ade, Salif Keita, Tony Allen and Idrissa Diop.

"Brazil Beat" posse Mara Weiss and Nego Beto describe the joys of California Brazil Camp, where participants learn and practice the many forms of Brazilian music and dance and jam with noted artists among the redwoods.

The Maytones, Their Greatest Hits, by Mark Gorney

Bob Holroyd, Without Within and The Now Sound of Brazil, by Derek Rath

Afua Cooper, Worlds of Fire: In Motion, by Ron Sakolsky.

Edith Lefel, by Gene Scaramuzzo

Vincent G. Chin and Sister Mary Ignatius, by Roger Steffens.