Coming Soon: Seu Jorge leads the Latin invasion

Usually African bands get the lion's share of publicity from this round-up of imminent world music gigs, so let's redress the balance this time by keeping them out of the picture. Firstly, the Brazilian samba remodeller and Bowie covers artist Seu Jorge (pictured) is playing a string of dates beginning at the Belfast Festival (028- 9097 1197) on Wednesday, before moving on to other venues including the Roundhouse, London (0844 482 8008) on Thursday and Bristol's Colston Hall (0117-922 3686) on 3 November.

Someone else doing a mini-tour is the sublime Spanish singer Buika, whose recently released second album is a flawless blend of edgy flamenco and Nina Simone-style jazz. She's touching down first at the Sage Gateshead (0191-443 4661) on 15 November before moving on to the Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (024-7652 4524) on 16 November, Brighton's Komedia (01273 647 100) on 19 November, London's Queen Elizabeth Hall (0871 663 2505) on 20 November, and finally, Bath Komedia (01273 647100) on 21 November.

But if you like your Spanish music with an undertow of dark, gothic intensity, my favourite home-grown world music band, LaXula, play the Toynbee Theatre, London (020-7650 2350) on 12 December.

The Portuguese fado goddessMariza plays two nights at the London's Barbican (020-7638 8891) next Saturday and Sunday as part of the thrilling Atlantic Waves Festival. The festival also features gigs by fellow Portuguese star Rodrigo Leao at the same venue on 6 November, and Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Vinicius Cantuaria at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (0871 663 2500) on 10 November.

OK, it's no good. I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I didn't tell you that Malian kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté is performing with the London Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday at the Barbican. The description of him as "the Hendrix of the kora" is misleading as he's more concerned with conveying the natural, pure tone of this 21-stringed harp, but no matter. This is a unique chance to hear material from his album The Mande Variations with a full orchestra.

Which brings us finally to Rokia Traoré at the Jazz Cafe, London (0870 060 3777) on 10 November. Rokia is another sublime Malian artist, and in light of the fact that her latest album Tchamantché is her most interesting to date, this is another show you shouldn't miss.