Islam has been badly used by a certain ideology.

Western record companies haven't always dealt with African musicians in the best way. Giving them a lot of money and telling them they're going to be bigger than Phil Collins is the wrong way to do it!

Travel teaches as much as books.

If you come from Africa with your economic poverty and your cultural riches, and you meet someone like Peter Gabriel or a person from a big record company, and they tell you that what you are doing is marvelous, that makes you feel powerful.

I have to protect my family and have a life with them that is completely private.

Politics is politics; art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist.

World music is about taking things from different places and bringing them together - which is great.