Africa Oyé is the largest free live African music festival in the UK and is held in June annually in Liverpool, England. It is held in Sefton Park and showcases up-and-coming African and Caribbean artists, as well as presenting already famous artists.
Africa Oyé has been the site of the UK débuts of bands such as Tinariwen, Ba Cissoko and has attracted a wealth of international artists to Merseyside, including Bonga and Luciano. in a family-friendly celebration of cultural diversity.
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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 home in Sefton Park in 2002 to cope with demand. It continues to grow each year and in 2009 attracted an audience of over 20,000 people, increasing to 50,000 people in 2010. The celebration of African Culture brought in £1.3 million to the Liverpool economy.
The festival aims to be an 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.
Africa Oyé launched an additional strand of work in April 2009 funded by the Arts Council called Oyé Touring and Trading. Along with 5 other national organisations (Serious, Punch Records, Joyful Noise, and CMAT) and as part of the Black Routes network Oyé produced two 2 National tours, and a Learning and Participation Project called The Legacy Roots and Music in Liverpool and will do the same in 2010/11. The first two tours were with Jamaican Reggae legend Freddie McGregor in June and Odemba OK Jazz All Stars from DR Congo in September.