Africa Oye returns to Liverpool’s Sefton Park this summer for its 30th year with a huge line up.
The festival, which celebrates the music and culture of Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora, will return after a two-year hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Africa Oye will take over Sefton Park for two days of live music, DJs and dance, as well as workshops, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village.
Among this year’s headliners are a Grammy Award-winning Malian musician, an Afrobeats pioneer and a reggae legend. Oumou Sangaré, Fuse ODG and Eek-A-Mouse have been confirmed to perform at the 30th anniversary festival.
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Oumou Sangaré is internationally recognised as one of Africa's greatest voices, performing at prestigious venues and festivals around the world, receiving honours and awards and releasing a string of acclaimed albums. Her music is contemporary yet stays true to her musical roots of Wassoulou - a historical region south of the Niger River, where the music descends from age-old traditional song.
British-Ghanaian superstar Fuse ODG made his name in the London rap scene. The producer and artist has been a pioneer of the rise of Afrobeats across the world, as well as an active influence in helping young people in his local communities realise their musical aspirations through a mobile studio.
Eek-A-Mouse became a household name in Jamaica in the late 70s and early 80s, having invented a whole new vocal style, sing-jay. His set at Oyé will see him backed by British reggae rhythm section and production team, Mafia & Fluxy.
Also on the line up for this year’s festival are DR Congo's Kanda Bongo Man, who previously played Oyé back in 2009 and 2003; Cape Verdean singer-songwriter, Elida Almeida; one of Guinea-Bissau's most influential bands, Tabanka Djaz; the Ghanian modern highlife stars, Santrofi; French-Cameroonian songstress, Valérie Ékoumé; and Congolese electro music ambassador, Kizaba. More more acts are set to be revealed soon.
Africa Oye launched as a series of gigs in the city centre in 1992, before evolving into one of the city's most popular events. Now a cornerstone of the festival, The Oye Active Zone heads into its second decade of providing festival-goers with free workshops across the whole weekend, suitable for all ages.
Paul Duhaney, artistic director of Africa Oye, said: "This is a line-up worthy of a 30th anniversary year already and we're not even done yet. Our headliners are a perfect encapsulation of the eclectic make-up of our amazing festival audience; Oumou will need no introduction to African music aficionados; Fuse is a pioneer of a genre that our younger audience always show their passion for every year at the festival; and Eek-A-Mouse is a Jamaican legend who introduced a whole new sub-genre."
"The reaction to our festival dates announcement was truly humbling - an outpouring of love from so many people who have missed the festival these past two years. We can't wait to welcome you all back to Liverpool in June."
Africa Oye will take place on June 18 and 19 2022, at Sefton Park from 12:30pm - 9:30pm. Entry is free.
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