Africa Oyé announces first live acts in 2023 line-up

Artists from Ghana, Cameroon and Guinea-Bissau are the first to be announced for this summer’s Africa Oyé.

The UK’s largest annual free celebration of African music and culture, which attracts tens of thousands of festivalgoers along with artists from across the world, will take place in Sefton Park on June 17 and 18.

And organisers have revealed the first three acts who will play on the main festival stage over the weekend.

Ghanaian highlife stars FRA! come from Accra and their name, taken from the Akan word for “mix”, is a reference to the elements of the fusion which is found in their music. The band is hoping to have a break-out year in 2023 with performances at festivals and venues across the world.

Meanwhile Veeby, a respected voice in the Afro-soul community, brings her soft but powerful voice to the park from Cameroon. Influenced by hip-hop and R’n’B she tells the story of her African roots through music.

And gifted guitarist, percussionist and balafón player Kimi Djabaté hails from Guinea-Bissau.

His new album Dindin sees the multitalented musician carry on the customs of his griot heritage, singing about the complexity of life in modern Africa for a broad, international audience.

Above: Veeby is appearing at this summer's Africa Oyé. Top: Ghanaian group FRA!

Oyé's artistic director, Paul Duhaney, says: "As we enter our fourth decade of celebrating the music and culture of Africa and the Diaspora, we're delighted to announce this first wave of artists for the 2023 festival.

“As part of our 30th anniversary last year we were lucky enough to be invited to music conferences across the world. Our first announcement for Oye '23 features three of the artists we discovered during showcases at industry events such as WOMEX and Mundial Montreal, where we were able to promote Oyé and Liverpool as a destination for international creatives.

“We can't wait for our Oyé crowds to experience their live sets and be blown away just as we were.”

Along with live music on the main stage, the festival includes DJs, workshops, a ‘toddler’ village, food stalls and a wide range of traders in the Oyé Village.

Africa Oyé takes place in Sefton Park on the weekend of June 17-18.