GRAND Magazine - Summer 2021 - 22

cover story
pure soul and what in the world we're
bringing it into. I've been through a
few things, and by the time I became a
daddy, I had a few lessons I could teach
my children.
Then, of course, I realized that
there's another whole side to this,
which is that the child, eventually has to
go to school-and where am I going to
send my child to? Then I realized there
wasn't a school that I felt was satisfactory
enough, which had a holistic view
and could deliver the kind of curriculum,
the broad spiritual and material
kind curriculum, I wanted. So I began a
bit more strict as well. And I was so busy,
doing so many things, time was limited. So
this is a second chance to get more playtime
into my life. And I think I probably was
responsible for teaching at least some of
my grandkids to swim. I love swimming with
them.
WENDY: And does your wife Fauzia
enjoy the grandchildren? Is she with them
a lot?
Yusuf with his wife, Fauzia Mubarak Ali, and their five children.
school, and I got involved in education. And then it went
on from there and my five kids all went to my schools.
My eldest daughter [Hasanah] is turning 40. She now
actually runs the schools, which is quite incredible.
WENDY: You have five kids, four daughters, and
one son, Yuriyos. How many grandchildren do you
have?
YUSUF: I have 10. I have three boys and seven girls,
from two up until 13. All the grandkids were born in
Dubai. So, at one time or another, my children all lived
here and had babies. But now only three are actually here
in Dubai at the moment. And my other grandkids are in
London and in Berlin.
WENDY: And your grandchildren and children-are
they musicians too?
YUSUF: Well, my son Yuriyos, of course, is a musician.
22 GRAND Summer 2021
My grandkids-Simsim, from my first daughter, she's
about seven. She wants to sing with me on stage.
Definitely. And she's ready to do that. She wanted to do
the miming thing with me on stage, so she's got plans
and I think she's got ambition. My grandson Muhammad
Suleiman-actually shares the same birthday as I do. So
we share the cake. Anyway, he also is pretty talented.
He knows how to play " Father and Son, " " Where Do the
Children Play, " but he has his own tastes as well.
WENDY: So far as your grandchildren are concerned,
are there things that you do with them-such
as activities and hands-on things-that you do now
that maybe you didn't do with your own children?
YUSUF: Well, you don't get your hands quite so dirty
as you would have done when you're a father and there
are nappies around, but as far as activities, for sure. I
actually play much more with my grandkids than I did as
a father. There wasn't that much time. I think I was a little
YUSUF: Oh, yes. I mean, she tends to
always be telling them, " Don't do that. Why
are you doing that? Put that back. " [Laughs.]
So she's more strict, I'm a little bit more like jelly when it
comes to the kids.
I did write a song called " I've Got a Thing About
Seeing My Grandson Grow Old. " So I think part of
what drives us forward today is making sure we're
here long enough to make an impression, to teach
whatever wisdom we can, and to pass on to a higher
place God's will.
Putting out more music
WENDY: Is Yuriyos working with you on the
albums?
YUSUF: Oh yeah. He's my right hand, he's always here
with me, helping me, like there's a box set coming out
this year, Teaser and the Firecat, and with all the intricacies
that go into building that lovely little box set [with
all the memorabilia] and new songs, new mixes, and
Continued on next page

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GRAND Magazine - Summer 2021

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