Iyeoka plays Baloise Session

As a pharmacist, Iyeoka sold medicine for physical ailments in her hometown of Boston and spent her free time singing poetry. As the front woman of the collective Iyeoka & The Rock by Funk Tribe, she was greatly admired by fans of the music of Gil Scott Heron and the Last Poets, and both of her albums were highly praised. Big city anger was evident in her songs, her intellectually demanding choice of words, and her sharp gift of observation, but also goodness, devotion and beauty. Three years ago, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants decided to start prescribing only medicine for the spirit and soul. She quit her job and in 2010, she released the album with the pragmatic title «Say Yes»: meaning say yes to life, to love. Since then Iyeoka is like Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, Shirley Bassey and Sade – you could say she is the essence of all four with her sense of justice, rhythm, vocal power and gentle grace.