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Islam
sang his smash hit “wild world” during a charity concert to
help tsunami-devastated Aceh.
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LONDON,
March 22, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Yusuf
Islam, previously British pop star Cat Stevens who embraced Islam 30
years ago, released a new record on Tueday, March 22, in aid of
tsunami-orphaned children in the Indonesian province of Aceh.
“The
tsunami disaster has changed the world in an extraordinary way and it
requires an extraordinary response from everyone,” said the
56-year-old Muslim activist, who sold 50 million records in the 1970s
with hits such as Matthew and Son, Peace Train and Wild World,
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
The
“Indian Ocean” will be available
only as a download
from yusufislam.org.uk.
“I
started writing it on holiday a year ago,” Islam said on his Web
site. “Then I was moved to finish it by the tragedy of the
tsunami.”
The
song was recorded in London with Indian composer/producer A.R. Rahman,
A-ha keyboard player Magne Furuholmen and Travis drummer Neil
Primrose.
Islam’s
own charity, Small Kindness, set up a regional office in Indonesia and
will work on projects “to keep families together” by helping
orphans in the predominantly-Muslim Aceh.
“We
try to find other family members who would look after the orphans and
then keep the family together in that way and then pay them
subsistence every month,” Islam added.
Indonesia,
the world's most populous Muslim country, earlier said that the number
of people dead or missing after the December 26 tsunami had went up to
some 236,000 people.
The
government estimated that 35,000 children have been made homeless,
orphaned or separated from their parents in Aceh, where Muslims make
up 98 percent of the population.
Future
Album
Islam
said the “Indian Ocean” is the first of a batch of new songs for a
potential album.
He
also is developing a musical based on his old songs.
“I've
come to realize that being a Muslim and an artist can exist side by
side,” he says.
Islam
became Muslim in 1977. Following a 17-year hiatus from the music
business, he returned in 1995 and has since released three albums of
Islamic-related songs.
He
has become a prominent member of Britain 's Muslim community and
devoted himself to charity work and peace campaigning.
Islam
is head of the Islamia Schools trust and has met UK Prime Minister
Tony Blair as well as Prince Charles and Home Secretary David Blunkett
in his new role.
Apart
from his schools work, Islam also has founded a charity raising money
for orphans and families affected by war in areas such as Kosovo,
Bosnia and Iraq.
Last
year he released a re-recording of his 1970s hit “Peace Train” to
express his opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
In
2003, Yusuf Islam was awarded the “World Social Award” for his
humanitarian relief work. Previous recipients of this award include
Pope John Paul II, Steven Spielberg, and Sir Paul McCartney.
More
recently, in November 2004, he was honoured with the “Man for
Peace” award by a committee of Nobel peace laureates.
