Black & Blues by Iyeoka Okoawo

Iyeoka’s spirit gravitated towards gospel and soul shakers: artists like Nina Simone that pull you in from the gut, all for the simple need to redefine the boundaries. From these connections, Iyeoka quickly learned that her poems can transform into songs and reemerge as unique, sometimes bittersweet, poetic and emotionally complex gifts.

After graduating Northeastern University with a degree in

pharmacy and creating a successful name as nationally acclaimed slam performance poet, Iyeoka found a comfortable rhythm to co-exist as a poet-pharmacist.

Iyeoka returned to her community as a true healer of body and soul.

Counseling customers by day, rocking stages by night!

Day job helping to sustain the art until the art can sustain itself.

Embraced as a top poet on the National Poetry Slam circuit, Iyeoka began to draw a very loyal fan base with the successful releases of her 2000 compilation Some Nights and her 2004 debut full-length album, Black and Blues. The warm reception of Iyeoka’s poems/songs, which included

recognition from the New England Urban Music Award Commission, led to opportunities that included invitations to events such as the Trumpet Awards, network opportunities such as Def Poetry Jam, and commissions to create original poems for corporate and humanitarian organizations from Arnold Worldwide Ad Agency to The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation.

Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, who has become a regular on the national college touring circuit, is currently preparing to share her gifts on an international level. Iyeoka has been invited to perform her poetry at the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation Summit in Abuja, Nigeria July, 2006.

The Leon H. Sullivan Summits bring together the world’s political and business leaders, delegates representing national and international civil and multinational organizations, and members of academic institutions in order to focus attention and resources on Africa’s economic and social development.

Iyeoka plans to self-release her second full-length album in the fall of 2006.

Combining her vocal talents, passion for writing and theater background, she captivates audiences with pieces that touch on a wide range of issues-love, women, culture, struggle, relationships, among many others. Iyeoka's performance was described at the National Poetry Slam as "a conversation stopper" and a "refreshing return to the essence of good spoken word poetry."

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