Paris is one of the great European capitals for world music. For many years, the city has attracted numerous musicians from former colonies in West Africa and Magreb (North Africa). This thriving scene is aided by the fact that there are many concerts and institutional support that help promote the music. Algerian and Moroccan music have an important presence in the French capital. Hundreds of thousands of Algerian and Moroccan immigrants have settled in Paris, bringing the sounds of Amazigh (Berber), rai and Gnawa music.

The West African community is also very large, integrated by people from Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast and Guinea. They have introduced Manding jeli(griot) music, mbalax and other styles. The numerous immigrants from Congo showcased the sounds of Congolese rumba to European ears. And there is also what is known as rock mestizo, a hybrid sound developed in Spain, which is also played by descendants of Spanish immigrants and musicians from other cultures who combine rock, Latin music, flamenco and other genres.

It's worth getting a copy of Lylo, a publication listing pretty much all the concerts and djs playing around Paris, and provides a lot of information in a tiny booklet. Available at any FNAC. Also, for English speakers, there's a quarterly Time Out Paris including witty reviews and maps.

Gilda sells jazz, world music, singles, soundtracks and other types of music. Address: 36, rue des Bourdonnais, 75001 Paris. Phone: +33-(0)1 42336000

Blue Moon Music specializes in reggae, ragga and dancehall with many imports from Jamaica. Address: 84, rue Quincampoix, 75003 Paris. Phone: +33-(0)140294560

Hibiscus Records has a great selection of music from the Caribbean. Address: 6, boulevard de Strasbourg , 75010 Paris. Phone: +33-(0)142497575

Mic'son Music sells African and Caribbean CDs. Address: 12, rue des Dames, 75017 Paris. Phone: +33-(0)1 42940698

Espace livres et musiques specializes in Algerian music and books. Address : 66, boulevard de la Chapelle, 75018 Paris. Phone: +33-(0)1 4255331

FNAC Bastille is a megastore with a large selection of CDs and books. Address: 4 place de la Bastille, 75012 Paris. +33(0)1 43 42 04 04, Fax: +33-(0)1 43 42 23 91. E-Mail: bastille@fnac.tm.fr

Satellit Cafe is known as the Parisian ambassador of world music. It has been around since 1992, presenting live bands from all over the planet and world music DJs on week ends. A place not to be missed! Métro stations: Saint Ambroise or Oberkampf.

Le Divan du Monde presents jazz and world music. 75 rue des Martyrs, Paris 18, France, +33 1 42 52 02 46, divandumonde.com

La Scene features world music artists. During May 2002 it celebrates a Gypsy festival, www.festival-tzigane.com. Address: 2 bis rue des Taillandiers, 75011 Paris, France. The closest subway (metro) station is Bastille or Ledru Rollin. +33-01.48.06.50.70. E-mail: infos@la-scene.com.

La Cabaret Sauvage presents many kinds of events, including world music. Address: Parc de la Villette, 211 avenue Jean Jaurès - 75019 Paris, France. +33 (0)1 42 09 03 09, Fax: +33 (0)1 42 09 11 17. E-mail: cabaret@cabaretsauvage.com.

Porokhane is a Senegalese bar often featuring Kora players. Phone: 01 40 21 86 74 - 3 rue Moret - Metro: Ménilmontant.

Jokko is a nice African venue. Phone: 01 42 74 35 96 - 5 rue Elzévir - Metro: St-Paul.

Jungle features African music. Phone: 01 40 41 03 45 - 56 rue d'Argout - Metro:Sentier.

Babalú is a funky basement bar with good traditional Afro-Cuban and Yoruban music. Phone: 01 48 06 28 63 - 8 passage Thiéré. Metro: Ledru-Rollin.

Canal 93 - a theater-type venue with a whole arts center attached. Phone: 01 49 91 10 50 - 63 av. Jean-Juarès. Metro: Pablo-Picasso.

Africolor is an annual world music festival held in December, focusing on African artists. Office address: 22 rue Soleillet 75020 Paris, France. Photo: +33 1 47 97 69 99, Fax +33 1 47 97 65 44. E-mail: africolor@africolor.com.

The world music event Festival Villes des Musiques du Monde in Seine-Saint-Denis takes place in the fall. Phone: +33 01 48 36 34 02.

Radio Nova 101.5 FM has a world music show hosted by Bintou Simporé, who is a member of the European World Music Chart panel. Address: Bintou Simporé, Radio Nova, 33, Rue du Fg St. Antoine, F - 75011 Paris, France

Radio France Internationale has several world music shows, including “World Tracks”and “Culture Mix.”

Christian Clement manufactures traditional and electroacoustic hurdy gurdies. Address: 123, rue Lamarck - 75018 Paris - France. Phone: +33 -(0)1 53 06 39 40, Fax: 01 42 29 03 04. E-mail: arpeges@claranet.fr

Paris Accordeon sells all kinds of accordions, including diatonic, chromatic, concertina and bandoneón. Address: 80, rue Daguerre - 75014 Paris - France. Phone: +33 (0)1 43 22 13 48, Fax: +33 (0)1 43 35 10 01. E-mail: info@parisaccordeon.com

Africa Productions produces CDs and videos about African artists. Address: 36 rue de la Chapelle, 75018 Paris, France, E-mail: africaprod@aol.com

Arion Disques. Address: 36, Avenue Hoche, 75008 Paris, France, Phone: +1-44-1- 45 63 76 70, Fax: +1-44-1- 45 63 79 54.

Institut du Monde Arabe. Address: 1, rue des Fossés Saint Bernard, 75236 Paris Cedex 05, France, Phone: +33 1 40 51 38 56, Fax: +33 1 40 51 39 47.

Iris Musique Address: 5 Passage St Sébastien, 75011 Paris France, Phone: +33 1 43 14 02 29 Fax: +33 1 48 05 71 99. <iris@mservices.com

Le Chant du Monde Address: 31-33 R>ue Vandrezanne 75013 Paris France, Phone: +33 1 53 80 12 30, Fax: +33 1 53 80 12 18, cdm@harmoniamundi.com

Lusafrica has a great catalog of music from Cape Verde, Angola and many other African countries, as well as music from Cuba. Address: Lusafrica, 13 rue Auger, 93500 Pantin, France, Phone: +33-1-4183 6630, Fax: + 33-1-4183 6635. E-mail: lusafrica@lusafrica.com

Ocora Address: Maison de Radio France, Pièce 1275, 116 Av. du President Kennedy, 75520 Paris cedex 16 France, Phone: +33 1 56 40 16 98, Fax: +33 1 56 40 49 49.

Cité de la Musique. Musée de la Musique. The museum has a large collection of musical instruments, paintings and sculptures. The museum also has a technical restoration laboratory and a research and documentation centre. Address: 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, Phone: +33 (0)1 44 84 45 45.

Cité de la Musique. Address: 221 avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris, Phone: +33 (0)1 44 84 45 45. Maison des Cultures du Monde (Institute for World Cultures) funded by the French Ministry of Culture. The center publishes books, releases CDs and organizes events. Address: 101 Bd Raspail, 75006 Paris, France, + 33 (0)1 45 44 72 30, Fax: + 33 (0)1 45 44 76 60. Métro station: Porte de Pantin.

The House of Brittany (Mission Bretonne/Ti ar Vretoned) promotes Breton culture in Paris, It presents Breton music as part of its programming. Address: 22 rue Delambre, 75014 Paris. Phone: +33 01 43 21 99 86, Fax: 01 43 35 26 41. E-mail: mbtavENTROP@yahoo.fr.

Information provided by Angel Romero (World Music Central, Paul Harding (Radio K, KUOM 770) and Robert Dray (Paris-based producer).