His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks at the opening of the third session of the OAU on the challenges of African unity, November 1966.

Everton Blender releases King Man, one of his best albums ever, and Sister Carol does it all on her latest, Empressive. Reggae mainstays Sanchez, Wailing Souls, Third World, the Gladiators, Horace Andy and Jackie Brown all make an appearance with new albums, as do next-generation artists Sizzla, Julian Marley and Mykal Somer, a handful of local lights, a slew of reissues and compilations, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

The Reptile Palace Orchestra infiltrates our world with wedding music for all cultures and occasions. Further explorations include Rough Guides to China, South African gospel and Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle, the Festival in the Desert, and the Franco-centric world beat of Les Yeux Noirs.

Mr. Music digs percussionist Papo Pepin's solo release Al Natural, flamenco envelope-pusher Javier Ruibal, Orquesta Broadway, Mamborama, Truco and Zaperoko, and Elio Reve. Charanga Forever, Edesio Alejandro and Tommy McCook all take a turn on the dance floor

Robert Leaver finds an unexpected musical gem in Puerto Rico's Truco and Zaperoko's Musica Universal; then tries out some new dance steps with Cubanito 20.02, Paulo FG, Adalberto Alvarez, Mamborama, Bamboleo, Yuri Buenaventura and Orquesta Antifaz.

Sid Whelan steps out with Kekele's Congolese rumba on the new Congo Life, and keeps the beat alive with Olatunji, Obo Addy, and Guinea-Bissau's Super Mama Djambo.

Martin Sinnock salutes Congolese supergroup Kekele and Ricardo Lemvo's Ay Valeria! Stervos Niarcos joins the list of 100 essential Congolese cds.

Def Jamaica, Gentleman, Vybz Kartel, Suncycle and Sizzla, plus a trailer-load of dancehall riddim compilations.

Orchestre Andalou D'Israel, Kol Oud Tof Trio, Jane Birkin and Cheb Bilal keep things hot in North African music.

Ras Rojah recounts the rags-to-riches story of newly discovered young Jamaican singer/songwriter Abdel.

The Brazil Beat team details the story of Rio's grass-roots Afro Reggae Noticas magazine and community cultural project, and reviews new offerings from Airto Moreira, Bolão, Virginia Rodrigues and Daude.

Moana and the Tribe, Toru, by Ron Sakolsky

Judy Mowatt, Sing Our Own Song, Portland Taiko, Big Bang, Rastlin' Jacob: The Music of the Spiritual Baptists of Trinidad by Norman Weinstein

Hot Women: Women Singers from the Torrid Regions of the World, by Richard Henderson

Helene Lee, The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism, by Ted Boothroyd

Papa Pilgrim, by Nan Lewis