Africa Oyé marks 30th anniversary with return to Sefton Park

Liverpool’s Africa Oyé returns to Sefton Park this summer to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

It is the first time since 2019 that the Oyé will be held at the park following a two-summer hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic.

The free weekend festival, running on June 18-19, will form the heart of a year long programme of anniversary events.

It starts with a special Hip Hop Showcase at the Philharmonic Hall on February 3.

Artistic director Paul Duhaney says: “We want to make 2022 a really special year for Africa Oyé.

"Not only are we returning after two years without a festival, but the year also marks our 30th anniversary and we have a programme of multi-arts events under the Oyé 30 banner – working with organisations and partners that we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with over the past three decades.

“We’ve had so many lovely messages of support during the pandemic, and our audiences have been supporting us by buying merchandise and donating via our website to help keep Oyé free.

Top: Africa Oyé in Sefton Park. Photo by Mark McNulty

“We know how much the festival was missed over the last two years, and we can’t wait to be back.”

The first of the main stage artists are set to be announced in February along with information about the festival’s Oyé Introduces programme which gives up-and-coming local talent the chance to appear in the line-up alongside international acts.

There will also be a return for DJ stages and for the Oyé Active Zone with its free weekend workshops.

The festival was founded in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre and has grown into a major event which attracts around 20,000 festivalgoers to Sefton Park each year as well as the cream of global music talent.

Africa Oyé is at Sefton Park on June 18-19.