His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I Emperor of Ethiopia speaks on the defense of freedom at the inauguration of the Haile Selassie I Military Academy, Oct. 6, 1958.

A collection of veterans make up the Jamaican All Stars, with a newly recorded album blending mento, ska, rock steady and reggae. Gregory Isaacs, Sugar Minott and Sizzla make an appearance with new albums, reissues from the Heptones, Delroy Williams, Tappa Zukie, Burning Spear appear; plus a handful of local lights, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

Brazil's Caetano Veloso finds inspiration in classic American songs on A Foreign Sound, sung in English, while Arto Lindsay takes a samba excursion in Portugese, and Orriel Smith sings like... a chicken. David Darling takes on the Wulu Bunun of Taiwan, and further explorations include the Makapuu Sand Band of Hawaii, Shiyana Ngcobo of South Africa and Shankar and Gingger's Celestial Body.

Mr. Music is in the mood for Carnival with a handful of Trini eps. Edwin Bonilla, Manolito, Sur Caribe, Habana Express, Ska Cubano, Bonga and Mikidache all take a turn on the dance floor.

Robert Leaver hails appearance of Africando at the West Coast Salsa Congress in L.A. In May; delights in new Spanish Harlem Orchestra album; then tries out some new dance steps with Grupo Gale, Spam All Stars, Los Moscosos and Cachao.

Sid Whelan has a brand-new bag full of acoustic African music: Abdul Tee Jay, Keletigui Diabate, Gangbe Brass Band, George Sibanda, Shiyana Ngcobo, Tarika, Bonga and Vakoka.

Martin Sinnock notes reissues of Bana OK and OK Jazz classics; welcomes new albums from Madilu System and Alain Mpela.

DJ G. Brown, Fya, Morgan Heritage, Pushim, Kevin Lyttle, Sizzla, Ivy Queen, H-Man; plus a trailer-load of dancehall riddim compilations.

Roger Steffens brings us up to date on his activities, including his recent tour of Australia.

Interview with Curacao's Izaline Calister and review of her new album, Krioyo; plus Grupo Serenada of Curacao and an Afro Colombian collection

Steve Heilig pays tribute to the late, great Brother Ray Charles; takes a swing around Africa with Miriam Makeba, Shiyana Ngcobo, Tarika and Vakoka; spaces out to the Gayan Uttejak Orchestra, Dhamaal Sound System, and Kayhan Kalhor and Ali Akbar Moradi; shakes his samba to Brizzi do Brazil; and chills with the Heptones, Sly and Robbie, Twilight Circus and Dr. Alimantado.

Monty Alexander with Ernest Ranglin, Rocksteady, and Ska Cubano, by Ted Boothroyd

Antibalas, Who Is This America, by Tom Orr.

Carlinhos Brown by Rebecca Levine

Travel the World with Putumayo, by Tom Orr.

Bonnie C. Wade, Thinking Musically, Shannon Dudley, Carnival Music in Trinidad, and Gregory Barz, Music in East Africa, by Norman Weinstein.

Brenda Fassie, by Trevor Herman

Twahir Mohamed, by Doug Paterson

Barry Brown, by Michael Turner