Cat Stevens in SA for peace
2003-03-16 14:53
Johannesburg - Yusuf Islam, as Cat Stevens is known today, has gone to South Africa to record a new version and clip of his 1972 anti-war song Peace Train with local musicians, the press said on Saturday.
"The new release of Peace Train does not signify a comeback of Cat Stevens, but I believe that I have a role to play to help avert a war and a humanitarian crisis and the words of the song speak for themselves," the folk-rock star of the 1970s told Johannesburg's Saturday Star.
"Though times have changed, it's a nice surprise to see that youthful feeling of anti-war sentiment returning once more to the cobbled main streets of Europe," Islam adds on his www.yusufislam.org.uk website, where the song can be downloaded free.
Islam's visit was initially planned for a Nelson Mandela charity concert for Aids, which has been indefinitely postponed, but he told the Saturday Star that he was delighted to make his first recording in 25 years in a country with South Africa's recent history.
"South Africa has played a crucial role in reconciliation on the continent and further afield and the approach of the South African government in addressing conflict is a lesson many other countries should learn," he said.
The song and the video clip are due to be broadcast during Saturday's One Big No anti-war concert in London, where Islam now lives. He has also recorded Angel of War, to the melody of his hit Lady D'Arbanville.
"As a member of humanity and as a Muslim, this is my contribution to the call for a peaceful solution to the dangerous path some world leaders today seem to be taking," Stevens said. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA