(headline image: Africa Oyé 2023 – Photo by Mark McNulty)
The Africa Oyé Festival will take place on June 22nd and 23rd, 2024, at Liverpool’s Sefton Park from 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm both days, and admission is free. The event, known as the UK’s largest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture, will present live music, dance, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls, and more.
Headlining the international acts on the main stage are Nyboma from Congo, Vox Sambou from Haiti, and Batch Gueye from Senegal.
Nyboma, also known as Nyboma Mwan’dido, has a career spanning over five decades and has been a pivotal figure in Congolese rumba music. His journey began with renowned bands like Les Kamale and Orchestre Lipua Lipua, where he exhibited his tenor vocal talent and diverse musical mastery.
Vox Sambou, a rising star from Montreal, infuses elements of Afrobeat, Brazilian candomblé, jazz, reggae, funk, and hip-hop into his multicultural sound. Fluent in multiple languages, he communicates his message of resilience and solidarity through his music and community activism.
Batch Gueye, a West-African Griot, weaves stories through his music and dance, drawing from his life experiences and West African heritage. Originally a professional dancer, Batch has performed alongside Senegalese music icons and founded Sabar Family, a movement celebrating West African culture.
The festival, which originated over three decades ago as a series of shows in Liverpool’s city center, has grown into one of the city’s most cherished annual events, attracting artists and attendees from around the globe.
In addition to the main stage performances, the festival will feature DJ line-ups, community performances, workshops, and showcases of local talent. The Oyé Active Zone, hosted by Movema, will offer multi-arts workshops for all ages and abilities, while the popular DJ stages Trenchtown and Freetown will return with local selectors and MCs.
Consistent with its ethos of inclusivity, the festival will provide accessibility features such as the Access Tent, on-stage British Sign Language translators, and an Accessible Viewing Platform.
More information at Africa Oyé Festival.
Author: World Music Central News Room
World music news from the editors at World Music Central
