Yusuf Islam Back to Singing for Tsunami Victims

Stevens said he was moved by the scale of the tsunami crisis into planning a live performance in Jakarta Monday, January31 .

“Everybody in the world has been affected by this disaster. It is very difficult not to want to do something,” he was quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP) as telling reporters in Jakarta Friday, January28 .

Islam has recorded a new song in response to the massive scenes of damage and huge death toll.

“Indian Ocean” features Magne Furuholmen of Norwegian group A-Ha and Neil Primrose of Britpop band Travis and is to be released next month.

The record makes use of musical instruments the singer has eschewed since 1977 when he embraced Islam. However, he said it did not represent a revival of his pop career.

Islam has rarely recorded music with instruments since his reverting to the Muslim faith in1977 , according to BBC News Online.

“It’s not a return to Cat Stevens, I see it more as a natural response to express my concern as a Muslim and as an artist; I believe both can exist side by side particularly when the cause is right,” he said in an earlier statement.

Islam, who had hits in the1960 s and70 s with “Matthew and Son”, “Peace Train” and “Wild World”, was also due to open in Indonesia a regional office of his charity, Small Kindness.

Aceh Visit

Islam highlighted his main focus was that of children orphaned by the killer waves. He was due to fly Saturday, January29 , to Aceh province, where most of Indonesia’s 230, 000tsunami victims perished.

Islam, who owns one of the most successful Muslim schools in Britain, was expected to pray in the region’s main mosque before flying over the worst affected areas.

The singer’s live performance in Jakarta will make him one of the most prominent international artists to perform in the world’s largest Muslim-populated country for several months.

A string of big name acts, including Norah Jones (news), Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys, have all cancelled shows due to security fears in the wake of deadly bombings.

Millions

Islam set an example for other Muslims in Britain, who rushed to help the victims of tsunami in an unprecedented scene of solidarity.

As part of the British response to the Tsunami disaster, Islamic Relief held a fundraising dinner entitled ‘One Month, One Night, One Million – Night for a Million’ this week.

Interestingly, the dinner raised in excess of £3. 75million in what truly became a Night for Millions. Donations came from all sections of society; local communities, businesses and individuals.

Donations came exactly one month since the Tsunami struck the region with devastating consequences.

“It was feared that a million may be too difficult in light of the other UK charity events which had raised several millions and were able to attract pop stars and even the Prime Minister,” the Muslim Association of Britain said in a press release sent to IslamOnline.net Thursday.

Speaking on this occasion Waseem Yaqub, UK Manager for Islamic Relief, said he was “overwhelmed by the response” and hoped “this generosity from the community will continue long after the media eye is turned else where”.

Whilst recognizing the generosity of the entire British public, he was proud that the Muslim community was playing an important part in the relief effort.

Press reports have said if a Muslim community in Europe was to be awarded first prize in integration and remarkable achievements, the British would be definitely singled out, and deservedly so.