The Rough Guide To World Music: Africa & Middle East highlights the dynamic and ever-changing world music scene, and is released in conjunction with the latest edition of the book that has become known as the `World Music Bible'. From Afro-beat to Congolese Soukous, and from Tuareg music to Arabesque, this release introduces some of the key African and Middle Eastern artists and styles; popular and classical, new and traditional.

Artists include- Gigi, Tweak & Tony Allen, Kekele, Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck, King Sunny Ade, Mory Kanté, Oliver Mtukudzi, Amr Diab, Masanka Sankayi & Kasai Allstars Feat. Mutumilayi, Mahmoud Fadl with Salwa Abou Greisha, Rhany, Etran Finatawa, King Sunny Ade, Tweak & Tony Allen, Mariem Hassan and Ofra Haza