We’re pleased to bring you some exciting news – Yusuf has been in the studio with his friend, world renowned musician Youssou N’Dour, recording a tribute song to the late Bob Marley. The track will feature on a forthcoming album by the Senegalese singer.

Youssou was a guest on Yusuf’s 2006 comeback album An Other Cup; and Yusuf is particularly happy to be working with him again. “Someone came through to me about this Marley project. Bob was such a great and innovative force in Music that I jumped at the chance to do something together with my musical friend Youssou. He sang on my album, An Other Cup. I love his voice and the blend with Marley’s style is a African-fun-fusion.”

Watch this space for details of when the track will become available.

Just reading a news piece about soldiers from the USA being sent to help out in the disaster zone of Haiti made me think: Oh wow, wouldn't it be amazing if armies were employed to behave more like this; to help out populations in trouble, rather than inflicting more planeloads of suffering...

Read Yusuf's Redroom Blog here

The earthquake in Haiti is another major disaster for humanity; we all have some part to play to help the survivors. There are many trying and I am happy that my song, Peace Train, is among the anthems mentioned by the people behind WORLD HELP FOR HAITI. They are not collecting, merely encouraging people to donate to the following: United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, Bill Clinton’s Haiti Relief Fund for Haiti, and the American Red Cross International Response Fund. I also know someone personally who has gone on behalf of Islamic Relief.

So please help and do whatever you can: www.worldhelpforhaiti.org

Canadian autograph hunter website houndstv.com has named Yusuf one of their top signers of 2009.

Yusuf was praised for his kind and gracious nature when signing fan’s memorabilia on his recent trip to Toronto, even as most items were Cat Stevens albums.

Also appreciated was Yusuf's habit of 'signing' off with 'peace & happiness'

You can check out the full story here

Peace be with you, and may all of you enjoy a blessed and happy new year.
I hope this year will bring a more powerful light unto the world through belief in higher plateaus of understanding. Power can produce light, so why can’t humans direct their energies away from the grotesque darkness of war and bring about a brighter more peaceful world? Let’s try harder for this to happen, individually and collectively. Oh Sun, you know what I mean.

Yusuf

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin’ on by you know how I feel

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day
It’s a new life – for me
And I’m feeling good…

We have no strength of power to change the course of humanity but the conditions for change have been made clear. That’s where we can create the climate for change. By effecting the climate, people naturally adapt and begin to change their ways.

To read Yusuf’s talk in Toronto in full, visit the Redroom Blog

(registration required).

Yusuf will be participating as a guest speaker at the Reviving The Islamic Spirit conference this month.

The event takes place in Toronto from 25th-29th December and will be attended by Islamic scholars and well known academics from around the world.

For more information on the program, please visit www.convention.revivingtheislamicspirit.com

Great news - Yusuf has lined-up two very special TV appearances in the UK and Ireland this week.

First up, UK fans can tune into BBC1's The One Show at 7pm on Thursday 10th December to catch a live interview with Yusuf on the early evening show.

Then, the very next day (Friday 11th December), Irish fans will be treated to a live performance and interview when Yusuf stops by the Late Late Show at 9.30pm on RTÉ One. 

Be sure not to miss it!

Having graced stages in Dublin, Birmingham and Liverpool, on Tuesday night Yusuf's Take My Time Tour will close in the glorious surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall.

The show will follow the same format as previous critically-acclaimed performances - beginning with a bonus 25-minute preview of 'Moonshadow' followed by an intermission after which Yusuf will take to the stage with a full band to perform hits, both new and old, from his extensive back catalogue.

A small amount of tickets are still available for the show - click here to buy yours now.

Yusuf would like to thank all the fans who have attended the tour and helped to make the shows so special.

Click here to read the Liverpool Daily Posts's review of the Take My Time Tour's Liverpool leg.

Tomorrow night sees Yusuf returning to the great city of Liverpool for a show at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Yusuf can't wait to see his North West-based fans there and share his music with them.

The show will follow the same format as the previous critically-acclaimed Birmingham show - kicking off with a bonus 25-minute preview of 'Moonshadow' followed by an intermission after which Yusuf will take to the stage with a full band to perform hits, both new and old, from his extensive back catalogue.

A select number of tickets remain for the show - click here to make sure you've got yours before they sell out.