IYEOKA, THE TRIBE, FEMI KUTI | June 24 | PARADISE BOSTON
The Amenawon Foundation is proud to announce that spokesperson and performer Iyeoka Okoawo, will open for Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti mad heir to Afrobeat thrown, during his lone Boston concert at the Paradise Lounge on June 24, 2009. A powerhouse match-up, this show will pair together for the first time on stage two Nigerians renowned for their dynamic stage presence and even larger humanitarian will.
Like Femi Kuti who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador to UNICEF and an important figure in the global fight against HIV/AIDS; Iyeoka, performing with her band the Rock by Funk Tribe, uses her remarkable musical and poetic gifts to raise awareness of global public health issues and support critical causes like the Amenawon Foundation that is improving the lives of rural Nigerians.
Iyeoka says, "The power of the Amenawon Foundation is that they take action that literally saves people's lives. Just two months ago, during World Water Day 2009, foundation members supplied 36,000 liters of potable water to 750 residents lacking safe drinking water in Uwessan, Edo State, Nigeria. Combined with the promotion of water conservation and hygiene their action will help avert a future crisis and prevent deaths."
No stranger to using arts to foster social justice, Iyeoka uses her words and music on an international stage to raise awareness on public health and humanitarian issues. Iyeoka performed on "In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2" (Sony BMG, 2008). Paying homage to Bono and U2's philanthropic efforts to support debt relief and humanitarian action for Africa, she joined a cadre of African musical stars and Grammy winners to reinterpret U2's classic songs with proceeds from the album sales to benefit the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Iyeoka also has been commissioned to perform at the Leon H. Sullivan Global Summit in Nigeria, Africa; for the Malaria Foundation International;
Currently, she is promoting Amenawon Foundation’s Clean Water Initiative, which will raise funds to provide educational programs that promote awareness for water conservation, sanitation and hygiene, and construct boreholes to service other villages in Uwessan. Local sustainability, along with personal and community transformation, is a key component of the Foundation’s operational model. Uwessan is comprised of eight villages and approximately 25,000 people.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
