There was a time when African music was not well known in the west, and as a result selling it was not obvious. We also understand that in a marketing sense, a product which does not sell does not deserve shelve space. During those times, including it in a lump sum group/label called World Music was understandable. Now scholars from the West, the record industry, and mega concerts organizers have undeniably acknowledged its invaluable contributions to the world culture, and as a result many of them have enriched themselves from it. I think that it is only fair to ask why African Music does not deserve to be in a category of its own instead of being put in this condescending genre which tends to perpetuate ignorance of our culture? Some people might jump and say that doing so will be selling short Africa's contributions because of the differences and complexities of the different cultures in Africa. To those people I would ask them this:why didn't they feel the same way with Classical Music as a category for it includes Baroque, Impressionistic, Expressionistic...? I feel that taking African Music OUT of the "catch-all category" called world music will be a good way to respect Africa's contribution to the World culture, and Now is the time!