Africa Oyé Festival takes place In Liverpool this weekend

The UK’s biggest celebration of the music and culture of Africa and the Diaspora returns to Liverpool this June.

Following an incredible 30th anniversary year in 2022, Africa Oyé have announced the dates for their iconic festival in Liverpool’s Sefton Park this summer.

One of Merseyside’s most picturesque green spaces will once again be filled with the music and culture of Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, for two free days of live music, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village.

The Saturday of the two-day free festival will see dancehall and reggae artist, Tanya Stephens close proceedings, whilst the Sunday will be headlined by Seun Kuti – son of the legendary afrobeat star, Fela Kuti – with his band, Egypt 80.

Artists from Ghana (FRA!), Guinea-Bissau (Kimi Djabaté) and Cameroon (Veeby) make up the rest of the acts already announced by organisers with plenty more still to come.

One of the most popular areas of festival, The Oyé Active Zone – which hosts free multi-arts workshops across the whole weekend – will feature alongside a brand new Toddler Zone, catering for the youngest festival goers, while the acclaimed DJ stages Trenchtown and Freetown are also confirmed to return

The rest of the main stage artists are set to be revealed next month along with news on the festival’s Oyé Introduces programme which sees up-and-coming local talent showcased on the line-up alongside the international heavyweights.

The festival’s commitment to being ‘free and open to all’ also means that the Access Tent, British Sign Language on-stage translators and Access Viewing Platform will also all return for this year’s extravaganza.

The date announcement comes shortly after voting for the People’s Choice Prize at the LCR Culture and Creativity Awards opened, with Oyé one of six shortlisted nominees up for the chance of winning.

This year’s Africa Oyé festival will take place on June 17th and 18th 2023, in Liverpool’s Sefton Park from 12:30pm til 9:30pm both days and entrance is FREE.

Beginning over three decades ago in 1992 as a series of shows in the city centre, the Africa Oyé Festival has evolved into one of Liverpool’s most beloved annual events, attracting artists and attendees from across the world.