Mother calls her from a Nokia cell phone in Benin City every Tuesday. Mama says, “we miss you baby girl, when will you visit us again?”
“I’ll be home soon mommy, first I need to get to the Notable Productions studio and record this U2 “Desire” song for the Africa Celebrates U2 compilation!”
Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo states that she has always had a simple goal to somehow change the world one poem at a time. Little did she know she would be granted the opportunity of a lifetime to contribute to a track on an unprecedented release of Shout! Factory’s newest project "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2". On April 1, 2008, Shout Factory is slated to unveil an album celebrating the music, culture and future of Africa, paying homage to Bono and U2 for their ongoing humanitarian relief efforts aiding her beloved continent.
“It is such an incredible honor to be included in an album with my fellow countrymen Tony Allen and Keziah Jones. I have followed Keziah’s work for some time now and my father is a long time fan of Tony Allen since the days he played with Fela.
So to now be associated publicly with artists I have looked up to like Angelique Kidjo and legendary Vusi Mahlasela…even to see my name and picture in the same album booklet is a surreal experience.”
Iyeoka lends her talents to a song with the African Underground All-Stars featuring Optimus from The Foundation Movement and Sierra Leone rapper, Chosan in this song called Desire. The album will be released April 1, 2008 on Sony BMG.
"Desire" is the lead single from U2's 1988 album, Rattle and Hum. It was their first #1 single in the UK.
Check out more of Iyeoka:
http://www.myspace.com/
To listen to In The Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2:
http://www.africacelebratesu2.com/
