Africa Oyé

Africa Oyé Festival is the largest celebration of live African music in the UK. Originally a smaller, multi-venue event, Oyé now attracts over fifty thousand people every June to Liverpool's Sefton Park. The festival showcases new and established African and Caribbean artists, besides celebrating different aspects of the same cultures. Oyé has also been known to programme music from South America, with Salsa, Soca and Reggae proving popular additions to the festival.

Africa Oyé is a non-profit organisation and registered charity. The festival is partially funded by the Arts Council England North West and Liverpool City Council, in addition to sponsorship, advertising, in kind support and the revenue generated from pitched traders, merchandise and the Oyé beer tent. This year, the introduction of the Trenchtown area providing music to the people around the bar was a huge success. Entrance is free of charge, however there are over eighty stalls in the surrounding Oyé Village, selling a broad range of world foods, fashion and cultural experiences.

Africa Oyé has one live music stage, hosting UK débuts for artists such as Tinariwen and Ba Cissoko. The festival has also attracted a wealth of international artists to Merseyside, including Bonga and Luciano. A wide range of DJs can also perform throughout the weekend at Trenchtown.

A recent independent Social Economic Impact Study outlined the many effects that Africa Oyé has on the Liverpudlian community. Besides Oyé’s general efforts to further cultural understanding in Merseyside, the festival brought in £1.3 million to the Liverpool economy in 2011.. As one of the earliest festivals in the UK calendar, Oyé occurs in the latter half of June. The festival has no authorised camping area, so accommodation for artists and audience alike is sought among Liverpool’s many local hotels.

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