His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, speaks out against racial discrimination, Nov. 3, 1966.

Sly & Robbie's 30-year career, reviewed in new anthology Sly and Robbie's Taxi Sound, has underpinned much of reggae's evolution. Alpha Blondy, Marcia Griffiths, Dub Syndicate, Free Joseph, Midnite, Queen Omega, Sizzla, Turbulence, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Paul Higgs, Winston Francis, Dobby Dobson, Nubian Star and Latty Guzang appear with new albums; compilations from George Nooks, Luciano, Linval Thompson, Rico Rodriguez, Phyllis Dillon, Delroy Wilson, and a four-disc box set of Bunny "Striker" Lee productions; reissues include Burning Spear and Pablo Moses; plus a handful of local lights, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo teams up with the English Chamber Orchestra to mixed results, while the Soweto Gospel Choir sings to the high heavens. Further explorations include music from Orchestra Makassy, Laurel MacDonald, Saba Habas Mustapha, Paul Prince, Rachid Taha and the Brazilian Girls.

Mr. Music relishes the reissue of classic '70s cuts from Benin's T.P. Orchestre Poly-Rythmo; hails new recording by '60s New York salsa giant Johnny Pacheco. Son Cubano NYC: Cuban Roots New York Spices 1972-82, and George Delgado's Mi Ritmo Llego, and the latest from South African and Brazilian dance floors all get a spin.

Popular female Cuban singers are a rarity, but Osdalgia Echevarria is out to challenge that presumption. Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso and Los Que Son Son bring the timba revolution to a new level with Pupy el Buenagente; more salsa jams from the Havana Power Band and King Bongo heat up the night.

Martin Sinnock discusses the recent trend among Congolese artists to include a DVD with the music disc, notably Les Pipiyu, Felix Wazekwa, and two from Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mere. Wenge spin-off Les Marquis de Maison Mere releases a debut album, and top banana Koffi Olomide puts out the latest in a long string of his trademark studio creations.

Sid Whelan revels in Kakraba Lobi's traditional music from Northern Ghana, performed on the gyil, a marimba-like instrument, and a wide variety of cultural music from Southern African ancestral traditions. Vintage Afrobeat from Africa '70's hornmen Tunde Williams and Lekan Animashaun, a DVD release of Youssou Ndour in concert, a new recording by Congolese diva Mbilia Bel and a compilation of hits by the late Brenda Fassie, as well as Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda round out the discussion.

Hecho en Cuba 1,2 & 3, by Norman Weinstein.

Isabelle Leymarie, Cuban Fire: The Story of Salsa and Latin Jazz, by Norman Weinstein.

Pancho Quinto, by Greg Landau.

Steve Heilig digs the Afrobeat nuggets from Fela Kuti's musicians Tunde Williams, Lekan Animashaun and Tony Allen; roams farther afield with Algeria's Moh Alilech, Mali's Idrissa Soumaoro, Benin's Julien Jacob and Guinea's Bembeya Jazz. The journey continues on to Brazil, where Jorge Ben Jor and Paula Morelenbaum offer recent recordings, to Jamaica for a solo effort by Earl "Chinna" Smith, a four-cd set of Bunny "Striker" Lee productions, Sly and Robbie's Taxi Sounds 30 Year Anniversary, Gregory Isaacs and West Africa's Alpha Blondy.

Roger Steffens brings us up to date on his recent runnings.

The latest album from Antillean supergroup Kassav' remains all but unavailable in the States, and that is a shame, as the group's creative dynamic is at a peak here, with excellent grooves that show they are still zouk masters. The party continues with more zouk from Dominik Coco, Teeyah, Ludo and Big Tom; Grenadian soca and calypso from Ajamu, and Garifuna paranda by Aurelio Martinez.