Middle Eastern, North African music these days?

Some really fine suggestions here.

Abdel Gadir Salim and Abdel Aziz El Mubarak from Sudan are really good.

Not North African, but Gigi from Ethiopia is terrific. Her debut album from 2001 is my favorite of hers.

Check Amazon to listen to samples.

I've been listening to African music for many years and there is still so much I have not heard. Some of the first music from there I heard was Osibisa, back when I was in college...

RX8man, I really like the Cheb Khaled & Safy Boutella Kutche album. I've had it for a long time.... on vinyl!

Another gem is 'Emociones' by the 25 Years Network. It is a 3 disc set that spans most of Africa, a little of So. America and some of South/Eastern. Europe, but mostly Africa.
Wonderfully recorded despite the age.
Spans a lot of genres.

Yep, I owned the first two Osibisa Lps. And don't discount Paul Simon's Graceland (only LP I can stand of his ;-)).

Here are some more S. African artists I enjoy. These all have labels from record stores in S. Africa. Kind of neat.

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath, Country Cooking and Procession

Sipho Mabuse, Chant of the Marching

Winston Mankunku, Jika

and this on really grabs me
Chris McGregor, Louis Moholo, and Dudu Pukwana, Blue Notes for Johnny

Just got 'A Wish' by Hamza El Din and what a beautiful piece.
Thanks!

Really good stuff. Anyone have a top ten, top five, or favorite African recordings list? I'll list some in addition to a few I named above:

Senegal: Baaba Maal & Mansour Seck - Djam Leelii - a must have.
Eqypt: Compilation - Yalla! Hitlist Eqypt
Mali: Nahawa Doumbia - Didadi
Tanzania: Remmy Ongala - Songs for the Poor Man
Nigeria: Fela - a few of his singles
- Upside Down
- Zombie
- Just Like That
S. Africa: Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens - Paris-Soweto
Benin: Angelique Kidjo - Logozo
Senegal: Orchetra Baobab - Pirate's Choice
S. Africa: Compilation - The Indestructable Beat of Soweto

This is cheating since they are from Spain, but North African influenced:
Radio Tarifa - Rumba Argelina & also Fiebre, their live album.

Lots of very good compilations on the Rough Trade label.
Afropop Worldwide is a also a great resource: http://www.afropop.org/