The question of modernization is central to disturbances in the Middle East and in Africa. Everyone is after modernization, no matter where they come from. But you have to be careful about it, and more importantly, you have to have sense about it.

Islam has been badly used by a certain ideology.

I'm a modern Muslim. I pray, and if I have a question, I ask someone who is more educated in the religion than me.

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

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.

When the slaves left Africa, they left us this music. They left us blues.

I want to use my music to deliver a political message and sometimes to denounce, but I don't want to be a politician.