With Africa Oyé 2020 cancelled, take a look back at Africa Oye over the years below. Some of Liverpool’s best photographers have documented the festival since it’s launch, and the image library is incredible.
About Africa Oyé:
Africa Oyé, the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture, takes place annually in Liverpool. Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in the city centre, the event has gone from strength to strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.
With too many negative representations of Africa entrenched in images of war, disease, poverty and famine, Oyé seeks to redress the balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music and artists that make this great continent one of the most vibrant and inspiring in the world.
“This isn’t just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it’s the best”
– The Sunday Times
The festival is also a truly international event that harnesses the spirit of multiculturalism and tolerance. It has played host to artists from nations right across Africa and also programmes music from South America and The Caribbean with Salsa, Soca and Reggae always a popular addition to the festivities.
But Africa Oyé is about more than music… Over 90 stalls selling the best food, drink, arts and crafts and fashion from Africa and beyond will again be present at the Oyé village along with long time supporter ‘News From Nowhere’, one of the UK’s premier stockists of African music, with all the performing artists and much more on sale, it’s a great opportunity to not only take in some of the best roots music around, but take some home with you too.
In addition to the festival, Africa Oyé also programmes and promotes shows across the UK, and have worked with the likes of Julian Marley, Songhoy Blues and Blick Bassy on recent national tours.
Oyé is often asked, “Why do you do this?” Fortunately the answer is simple. It is good to make people happy, even for a moment, or a day, or at best a lifetime. As ever, we welcome you.
Find out more about Oyé on their website here
Highlights and recordings from Africa Oyé:
Highlights of Oyé over the years, from some of Liverpool’s best photographers:
Mokoomba. image, Siobhan Slater 
Mbongwana Star. image, Mark McNulty 
Marema, image, Terry Hindle 
Max Romeo. image, Mark McNulty 
Marema. image, Mark McNulty 
Marcia Griffiths. image, Peter Goodbody 
Lura. image, Matt Hart 
Lura. image, Mark McNulty 
Kasai Masai. image, Terry Hindle 
Gasper Nali. image, David Edwards 
Haja Madagascar. image, Mark McNulty 
HAJAmadagascar. image, Warren Millar 
Horace Andy. image, Mark McNulty 
Inner Circle. image, Mark McNulty 
Jah9. image, Mark McNulty 
Jupiter Okwess. image, Warren Millar 
Jupiter Okwess International. image, Warren Millar 
Kasai Masai. John Middleton 
Gasper Nali. image, Jim Moody 
Frankie Paul. image, Mark McNulty 
Finley Quaye. image, Matt Hart 
Dobet Gnahore. image, Jim Moody 
Dobet Gnahore. image, Warren Millar 
Disabel Cissokho. image, Warren Millar 
Disabel Cissokho. image, Tim Edwards 
Disabel Cissokho. image, Mark McNulty 
Dele Sosimi. image, Mark McNulty 
Akala. image, Tim Brunsden 
Andy Kershaw. image, Tim Edwards 
BCUC. image, Mark McNulty 
Black Prophet. image, Warren Millar 
Black Prophet. image, Siobhan Slater 
Carlou D. image, Mark McNulty 
Cumbia All Stars. image, Tim Edwards 
Damily. image, Warren Millar 
Dancer for Marema. image, Joseph Adejumo 
Wesli. image, Mark McNulty 
Wesli. image, David Edwards 
Arifca Oye. image, Mark McNulty 
Akala. image, Mark McNulty 
Akala. image, Mark McNulty