Africa Oyé 2020 postponed over Covid-19

Liverpool’s Africa Oyé is the latest annual event to fall victim to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Organisers of the popular festival, which takes place in Sefton Park each June, have announced they are postponing the 2020 event “until further notice”.

Oyé attracts performers from across the African diaspora with artists coming to Liverpool from many countries.

This year’s event was due to have been held in South Liverpool on June 20-21.

Sonia Bassey, chair of the festival trustees, said in a statement: “Since its inception in 1992 and throughout our 28-year-history, we’ve never had to completely cancel a festival, but obviously this is an unprecedented situation when it comes to public safety and the tough decision had to be made. “As the news and advice surrounding the virus is being updated on a daily basis, it’s too early to be looking at a new date right now, but as soon as we can confidently announce new plans, we will. "Our current plans are focusing on making sure our staff our safe and able to continue to work flexibly and our future plan will be to ensure when the time is right we can deliver a festival experience that continues to support the industry and the economic recovery of the entertainment sector.”

Photo: Mark McNulty