Africa Oyé announces 2024 festival weekend dates

Africa Oyé has officially announced its return to Sefton Park for a weekend of unmissable music this June.

The popular festival, which remains the UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture, will take place on June 22-23 when it is expected to attract tens of thousands of revellers to the South Liverpool park.

But organisers have revealed while they are committed to keeping Oyé free to attend, they are facing ever increasing costs and are actively seeking sponsorship and other donations to help.

The festival is currently supported by Liverpool City Council and Arts Council England.

Festival artistic director Paul Duhaney explains: "This is the people's festival and the whole dynamic of the event would change if we had to start charging. We'll fight for as long as we can to make sure that doesn't happen.

“We're currently looking at private sponsorship to cover the rising costs to support our funders at Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council.

“And of course, as a charity, every donation and merchandise sale from the public goes a long way so please do keep supporting if you want us to remain free."

Above: Africa Oyé in Sefton Park. Photo by Mark McNulty. Top: Crowds at last year's festival.

Along with live music, the two-day event will also feature dance, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls and traders.

The first of the main stage artists will be revealed next month and young local artists who applied to play the festival will soon find out whether they made it onto this year's Oyé Introduces programme, which sees up-and-coming Northwest talent showcased on the line-up alongside international stars.

Meanwhile the festival is also currently celebrating being shortlisted in the People’s Choice category of the Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity Awards.

Africa Oyé takes place in Sefton Park on June 22-23, and runs from 12.30-9.30pm each day.