Ani Zonneveld

Ani Zonneveld
Ani Zonneveld
Born	Zuriani binti Abdul Khalid; October 26, 1962 (age 61); Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Occupations	Musician; vocalist; songwriter; record producer; writer; non-profit president;
Years active	1990–present
Website	anizonneveld.com

Ani Zonneveld (born 1962) is a Malaysian singer, songwriter, activist, and writer based in Los Angeles. She has released three original albums, produced music for other artists, and participated in the writing of

Grammy

-winning songs. She is the first Malaysian person to have won a Grammy.

She is the president and founder of

gay marriages, gender & sexual minorities, as well as sectarian minorities.^[1]

Zonneveld is also the editor, along with Vanessa Karam and Olivia Samad, of Progressive Muslim Identities: Personal Stories from the U.S. and Canada, a 2011 anthology that features a diverse groups of progressive Muslims, with a foreword by Aasif Mandvi, published in the United States by Oracle Releasing.^[2]

Early life

Ani Zonneveld was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, along with five other siblings, and was raised in Germany, Egypt, and India as the daughter of a Malaysian ambassador and a stay-at-home mother. In 1981, she moved to the United States, where she studied economics and political science. After college, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a musician instead of following in her father's footsteps.^{[citation needed]}

Music and activism

As a musician, songwriter, and producer, Zonneveld has had a bustling career that has included producing several pop songs for singer

E.M.A.S (2003). She is also a three-time finalist of Anugerah Juara Lagu

, a local song competition, through her collaboration with Kool (in 1997 for "Cemburu" and 1998 for "Satu Arah) and Siti (2003, "Ku Milikmu").

In Hollywood, Zonneveld's collaborations with

Grammy award, becoming the first Malaysian ever to be nominated and to win this accolade. After the September 11 attacks

in the United States, her religion became a strong part of her identity, leading to writing and producing spiritual-themed music, including an album titled Ummah Wake-Up, in which she sings the praise of Islam while encouraging Muslims to rise up for progressive causes. She also began performing at various interfaith organizational events in an effort to raise awareness of Islam as a religion of peace.

A few years later, Zonneveld joined other concerned Muslims of a progressive background as a board member of Progressive Muslim Union of North America (PMU), launched on November 15, 2004, in New York City. Before disbanding in 2006, the group met with controversy when in 2005 they supported a public woman-led prayer in New York City, raising a global uproar.^[3]

In July 2007 at Sarah Lawrence College, New York, Zonneveld spearheaded the founding of

LGBT Muslims, and other minorities.^[1]

Discography

Ummah Wake Up (2003)
One (2005)
Islamic Hymns: Celebration of Life (2012)

References

^ ^a ^b Jaweed Kaleem, Progressive Muslims Launch Gay-Friendly, Women-Led Mosques In Attempt To Reform American Islam, Huffington Post, March 29, 2012
^ Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), Anthology Archived March 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
^ Andrea Elliott, Woman Leads Muslim Prayer Service in New York, The New York Times, March 19, 2005

External links

Official website

[#note-2-1] Jaweed Kaleem, Progressive Muslims Launch Gay-Friendly, Women-Led Mosques In Attempt To Reform American Islam, Huffington Post, March 29, 2012

[#note-3-2] Muslims for Progressive Values (MPV), Anthology Archived March 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

[#note-4-3] Andrea Elliott, Woman Leads Muslim Prayer Service in New York, The New York Times, March 19, 2005

[1]

[2]

[3]