Gales Point, Manatee Region, Belize, Central America: Emmeth Young, master drummer, continues the drumming and Sambai dance traditions of escaped African slaves. The Sambai is one of the most significant gatherings of Creole culture performed at each cycle of the moon and at weddings and birthdays.

"Iyo Iyo" -- a tradtional Sambai song

Kingston, Jamaica: Kevin Dukes incorporates a variety of different styles into his music: soul, r&b, funk and reggae to bring a unique sound from Jamaica. Born in Kingston in 1971, Kevin presents his debut single, Really Didn't Know.

São Paulo, Brazil: revista do samba is composed of Beto Bianchi, acoustic guitar, Letícia Coura, voice and cavaquinho, and Vítor da Trindade, percussion. Formed in 1999, revista do samba's music traces the origins of samba as the main cultural expression of Brazilian people.

The trio presents songs of the greatest composers of Brazil, like Adoniran Barbosa, Geraldo Pereira, Paulo Vazolini, Ataulfo Alves, Wilson Batista, Jadir Ambrósio, Lupicínio Rodrigues, Noel Rosa, Cartola, Monsueto and Dorival Caymmi. Each song is part of Brazil's history and are familiar to every soul in Brazil. evista do samba has just completed its debut album.

visit revista do samba

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil: Projeto Axé is devoted to educating children living on the streets of Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. Axé, meaning lifeforce in the West African dialect of Yoruba, creates projects focused on the arts and culture, believing that sustained and profound involvement in the arts benefits young people in many significant ways. Not only are the arts a powerful way to engage young people in meaningful activity, participation in artistic activities also fosters cognitive and linguistic development, instills and supports a sense of agency and mastery and provides a means of learning about history and culture.

Among its activities, Projeto Axé has a dance company, a drum corps, a fashion design school and a paper recycling facilitiy where the children produce a variety of paper products. Projeto Axé has been recognized around the world for its innovative educational projects, and last year its founder, Cesare de Florio La Rocca, was named the Educator of the Year in Brazil.

visit Projeto Axe

Cusco, Peru: The Poqen Kanchay Foundation is a group of anthropologists, archaeologists, agriculturists and native healers whose goal is the rediscovery and the rebuilding of the ancient wisdom and knowledge of the South American civilizations that culminated with the Incas. The Inca civilization was the synthesis of living under the unique laws of nature that they called harmony.

Based on the concept that everything contains the divine spirit, in order to reach harmony, this gift must be shared. This action of reciprocity the Andeans call AYNI. With a true desire to help each person discover ones potential, to approach ones life from another point of view, AYNI is the foundation of Poqen Kanchay. Poqen Kanchay's projects with native communities are all devised to provide economic sustainability through the recognition of the ancient knowledge that the indigenous peoples' still possess.

visit the Poqen Kanchay Foundation

Buenos Aries, Argentina: Bucky Arcella and Osvaldo Belmonte, two seasoned musicians, have recently released Dialoganda. Produced by Fernando Miguel Iguacel, Dialoganda is a fusion of tango and jazz, played with an electric bass and a piano.

Both Bucky Arcella and Osvaldo Belmonte are experienced composers and professors with vast experience in popular music, expresssing personal styles where the elements of tango, jazz and folklore merge. Agentinina tango, as a musical genre, has its own language and codes. Bucky and Osvaldo have developed a unique ability of transmitting that knowledge.