“My goal is simple…I just want to move the world one poem at a time.”

Boston-based Nigerian-American performing artist and award winning poet Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo is at the forefront of creating a new artistic genre that gracefully interweaves spoken word poetry with jazz, blues, gospel and neo-soul influenced song. Embracing the power of words from writers such as Sonia Sanchez, Patricia Smith and Alice Walker, Iyeoka is a powerful songstress whose lyrical prowess invokes the spirit of the renowned soul-shaker Nina Simone.

Fresh off a 2007 nomination and a 2006 New England Urban Music Award
for best female poet,a second top ten finish at the National Poetry Slam in Austin Texas(she placed 4th in the nation in 2000) and commissioned performances by Arnold Worldwide Advertising Agency and most recently at the 2006 Leon H. Sullivan Summit, "Africa: A Continent of Opportunities- Building Partnership for Success," in Lagos, Nigeria; Iyeoka is currently recording her follow-up CD to her highly-acclaimed full-length debut disc, Black and Blues (Phanai, Records, 2004), while seeking publication of her first poetry collection in 2007.

A story teller to the core, Iyeoka's hope-filled poems come from within and build
momentum with truth transformed into songs that reemerge as unique, emotionally
complex gifts to her audience, touching on a wide range of issues-love, women, culture, struggle, relationships, among many others.

The buzz surrounding her poem-songs has garnered her national attention through
performances at the TBS Trumpet Awards, the CBS hip hop show The Source All
Access and Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam airing on HBO. Iyeoka also has opened
for the Tony Award winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway tour
at the Colonial Theater in Boston. Sharing the stage with recording artists
Chuck D of Public Enemy, Musiq Soul Child and Vivian Greene
to poets Gil Scot Heron, Sonia Sanchez, and Amiri Baraka—
Iyeoka has more than held her own.

Across the nation, at venues ranging from universities, large concert halls, and neo-soul clubs to venerable spoken word haunts like the Nuyorican Poets Café; Iyeoka's warm spirit, stirring lyrics and passionate performances leave audiences not only entertained but visibly overcome with emotion. Widely considered one of the top performance poets in the country, Iyeoka has earned her reputation by performing on the National Poetry Slam circuit for the past eight years, with the Jeff Robinson Trio and as a member of the acclaimed Bull Horn Collective and Blackout Arts Collective.

A gifted performer, Iyeoka's acting prowess has been featured as the title character in a PBS documentary on Harriet Tubman, as well as an off-Broadway play
produced by Thema Bryant Davis. Her poem on Rwanda will also be featured in a new documentary film "Rwanda Rising" that is being Executive Produced by Andrew Young the former ambassador to the United Nations.

In 2004 Iyeoka released her second album LP "Black and Blues" through Phanai Records.Black & Blues is the solo debut album from nationally award winning slam poet Iyeoka (sounds like- tapioca), formerly one of the leaders for one of Boston poetry’s most artistically proactive groups, BlackoutBoston. The record is full of groove-laden, contemporary R&B singalongs, most recorded with a full band -- heavy on the bass, keys, and poetry-- and no reliance on sampling.Much of Black & Blues focuses on the songwriting and delivery with just enough attention paid to the groove.