His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, speaks on the 23rd anniversary of the United Nations, Oct. 25, 1968.

Country music icon Willie Nelson reveals his passion for reggae with new release, Countryman. Burning Spear, I Wayne, the Nazarenes, Morgan Heritage, Freddie McGregor, Ernest Ranglin, Third World, Sangie Davis, Junior Kelly, Turbulence, NiyoRah, Anthony B and Pressure have new albums; reissues from Winston Jarrett, Winston McAnuff, Peter Tosh and Freddie McKay; plus a handful of local lights, compilations, a fistful of dub and ska albums and much more.

On World After History, Boris Kovac and La Campanella play the role of a world-weary seedy cruise-ship orchestra, making the rounds of Mediterranean ports of call. Further explorations include music from Sierra Maestra, Boubacar Traore, Third World, Clothesline Revival, Tito Puente and Baka Beyond. <\p>

Mr. Music relives his checkered past in London's 1950-60s music scene with the calypso/highlife compilation London Is the Place for Me 2. Chino Nunez, Arturo O'Farrill and the Mahotella Queens all get a spin on the dance floor.

The spirt of John Coltrane is heard in new albums by Bobby Matos and his Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, and Anga Diaz; Pancho Sanchez mixes funk, soul and Hugh Masekela into his Latin bag. Maraca, Issac Delgado and Sierra Maestra heat up the night.

Martin Sinnock reports on Papa Wemba's apparent descent from the very top of Congolese music to his present diminished status, and the disappointing new Bazonkion cd/dvd release. Former Wenge Musica singer Adolphe Dominguez likewise fails to satisfy with 25 Minutes: Jugement Dernier, but Tshala Muana gets the nod for her latest, Tshanza.

Sid Whelan discusses the posthumous release by Babatunde Olatunji, Circle of Drums, Mastaki Bafa's Congolese acoustic music, the Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble, Mali's Amadou and Miriam and Sudanese singer Salma Al Assan.

From Haiti, a double-disc retrospective of the Magnum Band, a best-of from Farah Juste, and Montreal's Pierre-Michel Menard; the French Antilles offer Thimothey Herelle, Marce and Toumpak, Dede Saint-Prix and Face A Face; St. Lucian calpyso is represented by Lindy "Double Trouble" Minvielle.

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

Steve Heilig sets sail for Brazil with music from Milton Nascimento, Seu Jorge and the Rough Guide to the Music of Brazil: Rio; heads to the Caribbean and beyond with Peter Tosh, Luciano, Mad Professor, Willie Nelson, Dr. Israel, Keith LeBlanc, Leon Mobley and Umar Bin Hassan. On the Latin side, Sierra Maestra, Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Eddie Palmieri rock his boat, and he's Africa-bound with the Baaba Maal and Africa multimedia packages, Boubacar Traore and Ade Bantu featuring Adewale Ayuba.

Favela soul from Seu Jorge, global influences, including Lee "Scratch" Perry, enliven Zuco 103's newest album, and singer/guitarist Badi Assad offers her colorful mystique. Brazilian reggae rocks with Ras Bernardo and Ricky Husbands.

Project Groundation, Junior Kelly, Sizzla, Sean Paul, Anthony B, Assassin, Army, Ancient King and Pressure, plus a trailer-load of dancehall riddim compilations.

Soweto Blues, by Ron Sakolsky

Mark Weinstein, Algo Mas by Norman Weinstein

Cyro Baptista and Beat the Donkey, Beat, by Tom Orr

Laurel Aitken, by Grant Thayer