The Deep

THE Performing Music Association of Nigeria (PMAN) has identified with the effort of award- winning poet, Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo. The drummer, songstress and poet, who has, in her sojourn in Music projected the image of Nigeria recently paid a courtesy visit to the PMAN office in Lagos after 10 years of playing professional music in Boston and other parts of the world.

According to the PMAN president, Ras Murphy Van Anthony, who promised to harmonise the sector and give recognition to artistes who come around both home and abroad, “We are blessed with various talents that have distinguished themselves everywhere they go in the world, we will continue to celebrate our own.”

Iyeoka called on PMAN to create more awareness to bridge the gap of information so that Nigerian artistes out there would know.

“ Is a great deal for me and a good opportunity. I never knew or heard of PMAN before now, until I accidentally met with the president during an interview with Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), where I was talking about my various albums.”

As a drummer of great repute whose inspiration is Victor Uwaifor, her poetic verses tell a lot of where she is from. Her latest album Say Yes, launched in 2010, is being promoted in Nigeria with a message of healing.

“Say Yes is a holistic experience, which feels like you are receiving an invitation into the beautiful mind and soul of the ever-evolving creative mastermind. It would be wise of any true music lover to have such a timeless collection of art in his or her musical repertoire. In all my albums, my watchword is healing even with my Pharmacy background, I used words to preach this.”

Iyeoka’s lyrical prowess and vocal talents invoke the spirit of soul-shakers like Nina Simone, Sade, Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse. A storyteller to the core, Iyeoka’s hope-filled words pour out from within and build momentum based on truth. As the words transform into songs, they reemerge as unique, emotionally complex gifts to her audience, touching on a wide range of issues—love, women, culture, struggle, and relationships and others.

“I write all my songs and I have been doing this for 10 years now; I do write for other musicians too.  I make it a point of duty to publish my songs on the internet so that the youth will not only hear the song but could read through the lines and get the messages embedded in it.”

Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo, a poet and recording Artist, is 2010 TED Global Fellow. The second place winner at the 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, such is the spokesperson of Amenawon Foundation.

Iyeoka was a practicing pharmacist before launching her career as a poet, singer, activist and educator.

In her native Esan language, Iyeoka means “I want to be respected.”

By channeling her culture and ancestral influences, she delivers an authentic and inspiring message of healing through accessing the power of the moment.

Iyeoka began her musical career by founding the group The Rock by Funk Tribe, a groupof musicians that enabled her to interweave her poetry with jazz, blues, funk and gospel.

She released her first solo album of poem-songs called “Black and Blues” in 2004 through Phanai Records and then began to tour and make numerous appearances on other artiste’s albums, including The Press Project’s “Get Right” album and “Memoirs of the Tempo” by Tempo Valley.