As we root our way into the Year of the Pig, NPR drops this heavy piece on Reggae in China. Lauren Keane surveys the reggae scene in the PRC and finds that the closest thing the Chinese have to Bob Marley is the rocker Cui Jian. Funny, I thought he was supposed to be China's Bob Dylan... or was it Bruce Springsteen? Anyway, Keane's point is that Chinese reggae artists have the rhythms down, but not the politics or spirituality. Seems capitalist Chinese reggae is just plain decadent--nothin' but a party. Her basically tongue-in-cheek search for the Chinese Bob Marley ends with the conclusion that he probably won't be found anytime soon.

While your at it, check out Nippop's article "Rastaman Vibration - What's up with Japanese Reggae?"