His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on Ethio-Eritrean oneness, June 1962.

"Oh Reggae Where Art Thou": Chuck Foster takes a cue from a recent movie to question reggae's current direction; hails the Wailing Souls new album, Souvenir from Jamaica, and Luciano's Visions cd. Reggae mainstays Freddie McGregor, Yami Bolo, Horace Andy, Roy Shirley, Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley, Jackie Robinson, Stranger Cole, Derrick Morgan and Alton Ellis all make an appearance with new releases, as do next-generation artists Junior Kelly and Wayne Marshall, a handful of local lights, a slew of reissues and compilations, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

Bob Tarte opens a can of worms with '70s groundbreaking German group Can, hen fearlessly takes on Noiseshaper, the Slackers, El Congo: Brazza-Kin, Vasen, Steindor Andersen, Bau and the music of Thailand.

Mr. Music salutes the new release from Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca, Ay Valeria!, and offers a brief appreciation of sonero Herman Olivera and Celia Cruz. David Calzado and Charanga Habanera, Soneros del Barrio, Curet "Tite" Alonzo, Radio Tarifa and Danae all take a turn on the dance floor.

Robert Leaver recounts his experiences in producing Pancho Quinto's album Rumba Sin Fronteras; then tries out some new dance steps with Rumba Pa'l Pueblo, Cepeda's Dancing the Drum, Papo Vasquez and Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso. Celia Cruz's posthumous release Regalo del Alma is appreciated. Sidebar elegy by Norman Weinstein, "A Sentence Tracking the Trajectory of the Career of Celia Cruz"

Sid Whelan takes over the "African Beat" helm with a discussion of Ooleya Mint Amartichitt's Mauritanian music, Sam Mangwana's Congolese rumba, and the Festival in the Desert concert recording.

Martin Sinnock notes a slump in Congolese music production by leading artists, but spends some time with Zaiko Langa Langa's late-'70s output. Reddy Amisi and Quatier Latin Integral manage to relieve the drought with new releases, and a comedy recording by Mister Siatula and l'Orchestre Academie des Stars lightens things up in the meantime.

Wayne Marshall, DJ Lil' Mic, Capleton, Turbulence, Pushim, Sizzla, Nicodemus, Daddy Mory, Ward 21, plus a trailer-load of dancehall riddim compilations.

Abdelli, Rabita Andalusa, Amida Boussou and Nass El Ghiwane keep things hot in North African music.

Ras Rojah recounts his extended visit to England and New York.

Brian Dring discovers a new Haitian voice in Kauvon, recent efforts by Beethova Obas and Ram, and nouvelle generation kompa from Ti Kabzy and Black Parents, plus a reissue of old-generation Bossa Combo. He serves up fresh zouk from Christiane Valejo and Kathryn Thelamon, classics from Harry Diboula, a full helping of Soca Gold 2003.... Bon appetit!

Steve Heilig looks back to his reggae roots with Jimmmy Cliff, and standard-bearers Ranking Joe and Luciano. The Festival in the Desert album, Arabian Travels 2, Drop the Debt, Ricardo Lemvo and Bat Makumba round off the trip.

The Brazil Beat team visits Rio de Janeiro and Sâo Paulo and comes back with Daniela Mercury's new DVD Eletrodomestico, and new offerings from Paulo Moura, Max de Castro, Fernanda Porto, Simone Guimaraes and Velha Guarda da Portela.

10 Ft. Ganja Plant, Midnight Landing, by Robert Nelson

The Fire This Time, Indigenous Resistance #1 and #2 by Ron Sakolsky

Trojan Nyahbinghi Box Set, by Norman Weinstein

Kouding Cissokho, by Susan Cummings Maroni