"Ethiopia Has Awakened" His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the Coronation, Nov. 4, 1967.

Fat Eyes produces two "Dee-Lite" -full compilations that bridge the gap between roots and dancehall; also reviewed: a career retrospective of Beres Hammond's crucial works, a live cd and DVD from Israel Vibration and a solo effort by the Itals' Keith Porter. Calton Coffie, Carl Dawkins, Tippa Irie, Ken Boothe, Lloyd Brown, Turbulence, Yellowman, Winston Jarrett, Errol Dunkley and the Jays all make an appearance with new albums, plus a handful of local lights, a slew of reissues and compilations, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

Immortal dubmaster King Tubby's The Roots of Dub and Dub from the Roots take studio craft to the extreme. Further explorations include new albums from Super Rail Band de Bamako, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Abyssinia Infinite and Yo Yo Ma.

Mr. Music has a flashback to the days when acid culture crept into Latin music, as recalled by Ivan Caceres y Su Bongolandia's The Roots of Acid Salsa. Yuri Buenaventura's Vagabundo and Lost Classics of Salsa take a turn on the dance floor.

Robert Leaver finds an unexpected musical gem in multifaceted Argentine-American Kevin Johansen; salutes the late piano maestro Ruben Gonzalez; then tries out some new dance steps with Ruben Gonzalez Jr., Rubalcaba, Uliese, Gregorio Laza "Cordoví" El Zorro, David Alvarez, Celso Pina, John Santos, Jose Mangual Jr., and La Son Charanga.

Martin Sinnock salutes old-school Congolese band Los Nickelos and follows the paths of members Tony Dee, Zatho, Zizi et al. The latest album from Papa Wemba disappoints; reissue of Sam Mangwana's Tiers Monde Cooperation album is hailed.

Vybz Kartel, Turbulence, Tippa Irie, Yellowman, Elephant Man and Savana, plus a trailer-load of dancehall riddim compilations.

Maalem Mahjoub, Hamsa Lila and Gnawa Diffusion keep things hot in North African music.

Kassav' vocalist Jocelyne Beroard discusses her new solo album, Madousinay, with Brian Dring. Also covered: A tribute album dedicated to the late Edith Lefel, and new releases from Ludo, Princess' Love, Ayenn, Ram and Gaston "Bonga" Jean-Baptiste fresh out of the French Antilles and Haiti, Curacao is represented by Oswin Chin Behilia and Riba Dempel: Popular Dance Music of Curacao 1950-1954.

More nostalgia is evoked by The Legend Live: Bob Marley at the Santa Barbara County Bowl 1979 DVD; the grand tour continues with dub, ska, Nyahbinghi and rock steady reissues, and new African and Brazilian offerings.

The vastly underrated Jamaican vocalist Ken Parker discusses his career with Michael Turner. Parker's compilation, The Best of: Groovin' in Style, reviewed by Mark Gorney.

The Brazil Beat team, celebrating 10 years as Beat columnists, reviews the current trend of Brazilian electronica and remixes and interviews Beth Ferreira of the online magazine BitsMag.com

Havana and Matanzas, Cuba: Bata, Bembe and Palo Songs, by Norman Weinstein

Al-Haca Soundsystem, Inevitable, by Robert Nelson

Concert DVDs showcase concerts by Don Carlos, Gregory Isaacs, and Lady Saw: Live in San Francisco, by Rebecca Levine

Report on release of Mzwakhe Mbuli from South African imprisonment, by Ron Sakolsky

Hukwe Zawose, by Richard Henderson