April 28, 1975 to Present

We are 25% through a year that is halfway through a new decade, in a new century and new millennium...

I remember when I used to think 30 was old.

I remember 10 years ago, I used to watch this TV show thirty-something thinking how much I could NOT relate to their lives at all.
Now...thinking back on that TV show...
I still can't relate.
I remember being a freshman in college like it was yesterday.
It was so easy in those days to find others born in 1975.
It wasn't a big deal, or a major topic of conversation...it just WAS.
Now if you find another one, it becomes an instant connection.
A MOMENT if you will...
You understand their journey a little bit better and for some reason they understand yours. You pray that they are comfortable
with their directions and decisions and progress and purpose.
No regrets. Never regret.
You're still too young for that.
There is still so much TIME to turn anything around that may appear backwards in the mirror.

It's nice to be able to reminisce from time to time with my girls, my crew, my peeps
and talk about college 12 years ago or high school in the "80's".
It sounds like a long time ago, but it still feels like yesterday.
Keeping friendships is a good thing.
It reminds me that it happened.
It reminds me of how far we've all come.
It reminds me that it is Ok...
to turn thirty today.

"This Is Your Life"

It's Possible for a time to come in your life... when you can get everything you probably didn't deserve. You achieve 75% of a greater fragment that 5 yrs ago you thought was impossible to reach.
You realize that you are a part of an amazing canvas of family & friends that will always be there when it matters. Somehow you have managed to stumble upon these diamonds. Somehow you have managed to discover these paths that others are also willing to walk with you. Somehow you have finally realized just how loved you are... And you're still not exactly sure how any of it happened or why it happened to you. There are so many things in our lives that we have absolutely no control over----like the How's and the When's or the Why our parents gravitated towards each other, or when they chose to make a love that eventually became you. I know that in the grand scheme of things, 30 years is barely even a blink, a wrinkle, a whisper...and it sometimes comes and goes unnoticed. Well, yesterday my family and friends made sure that my 30th day in this life would not pass by them unnoticed. Yesterday was more than a surprise, more than a whisper or a wrinkle, more than a blink. Yesterday they reminded me of my own words..." I can be famous in my cipher and NEVER have been known to the world...and never have been seen through the eye's of the universe...but be important, in spite of all of this ...to someone."

Yeah...so the event was AMAZING

Just got home from the show held by my Delta's.
It was fabulous.
I'll write about it in the morning----Just need a few hours of slumber to meditate on the importance of Sisterhood and positive reinforcement from your fellow man and woman, peers and ever so passionate spectators.

But I will say this... I have always believed that being a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sor. Inc. has changed my life. "Lifetime membership" is by no means a joke. And there is no other senario that comes close to describing the feeling of walking into a room full of mostly strangers...a room where you should have felt alone... yet because of the unspoken, because of the bond, because of the shared path that resonated into real steps taken into this future...you are safe, you are loved, and you are always welcome.

First day as a Blogger!

"I love hanging out with my producer Franchise... " was my first comment made on my new blogger page FP hooked me up with. We hung out last night working diligently into the wee hrs of the am. After a year of heavy promoting of Black and Blues, I'm finally back at the Slinghot Studio working with FP on a few exciting up and coming projects. Studio moments are definitely long overdue. It's gotten to the point were most of the pieces I perform at shows when I'm with my band are all new stuff.. so I'm like to my producer "yo--- we needs to be gettin started wit dis for sho and give the fans what dey want". I don't really talk like that, I was just trying to be funny. Im not sure what kind of blogger I want be yet, so I'm just gonna try out a few things and see how people respond. Any way if anyone is around tonight, I will be performing at an event my sorority is holding. Would love to see you there... Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
a not for profit public service sorority
cordially invites you to
An Evening of Jazz and Spoken Word
Friday, April 22nd
from
7:00-11:00pm
at the
Phillips Old Colony
780 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester

Tickets: $30 in advance or $35 at the door
Entertainment provided by Ray Brown Quartet
Light Refreshments will be served
Cash Bar

About me

Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo is a Nigerian-American poet/singer residing in Boston. Winner of "Performance Poet of the Year" and "Slam Poet of the Year" for the 2003 Cambridge Poetry Awards, Iyeoka initially gained national attention in the National Poetry Slam. For the past 5 years she has been a strong member of the Boston Slam Team 2000-2004.As a member of the 2000 Boston Slam Team, she won fourth place overall in the individual competition. She has opened up for numerous artist such as Gil Scot Heron with the Jeff Robinson Trio and most recently Vivian Green performing at Afrocentrics. She has been featured at the House of Blues in Boston, the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, and Avalon where she opened up for the hip-hop/soul recording artist Musiq Soulchild. Iyeoka was showcased in Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam airing on HBO and was a highlight on the late night CBS hip hop show The SOURCE ALL ACCESS.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." 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.