Along the way, the magazine added a separate poll category for Reissues & Compilations (after the 1990 poll was won hands-down by the classic Robert Johnson Complete Recordings boxed set!) and in 2006 they added a Best Packaged Album category, to acknowledge the great improvements and creativity in CD packaging design that still make CDs hold their own as objects of desire in the era of downloads.

All the winners to date can be found at http://www.frootsmag.com/pollwinners

The BBC has ceased its Awards For World Music this year, and so the fRoots Critics Poll Albums Of The Year continue in their own right as the de facto flagship industry awards. They have wide support including from all the previous partners in the BBC Awards - Songlines, Serious, Rough Guides, Womex and Radio 3 - and this year have Amazon UK as retail partner.

Voting has been completed, and below are the nominees for the New Album Of 2008 and Best Reissue Or Compilation Of 2008.

This year's winners will be revealed exclusively by BBC Radio 3 in a special edition of World On 3 broadcast from 11.15 pm on Friday 5th December, hosted by world music guru Charlie Gillett, and in detail - including the Best Packaged Album winner - in the Jan/Feb 2009 double issue of fRoots published in mid-December.

Will this be the first year this century that the winner isn't from West Africa

New Album of 2008 nominees alphabetically:

Natacha Atlas & The Mazeeka Ensemble: Ana Hina  (World Village)
Issa Bagayogo: Mali Koura  (Six Degrees)
Bellowhead: Matachin  (Navigator)
Eliza Carthy : Dreams Of Breathing Underwater  (Topic)
Toumani Diabate: The Mand? Variations  (World Circuit)
Kasai Allstars: In the 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and
Ate the Head of His Enemy By Magic (Crammed Discs)
Jim Moray: Low Culture (NIAG Records)
Taksim Trio: Taksim Trio  (Doublemoon)
Rokia Traore: Tchamantch?  (Nonesuch/Tama)
Umalali: The Garifuna Women's Project  (Cumbancha)

Reissue/ Compilation/ Historical Album of 2008 nominees alphabetically:

Peter Bellamy: Fair England's Shore  (Fellside)
Buena Vista Social Club: At Carnegie Hall  (World Circuit)
Fotheringay: Fotheringay 2  (Fledg'ling)
Franco & Le TPOK Jazz: Francophonic  (Sterns)

Gabi Lunca: Sounds From A Bygone Age Vol. 5  (Asphalt Tango)                                                        

Various: Desert Blues 3 - Entre Dunes & Savanes  (Network Medien)