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