30 Years of Celebration
#Oyé30 was a year long celebration of music and culture events from Africa and the Diaspora which took place across Merseyside.
Oye Crowd 2Africa Oyé
What is Oyé?
Africa Oyé started as a series of gigs in Liverpool in 1992. It is now the UK's biggest celebration of its kind, attracting up to 80,000 to Sefton Park every June. #Oye30 saw a year of satellite events around the festival, including concerts, film screenings and more.
Nelson 2Africa Oyé
Africa Oyé Hip Hop Showcase - 03/02/22
A coming together of some of Liverpool’s brightest rising stars. Featuring MC Nelson, L100 Cypher, Philly D, the young collective took to the stage in the Liverpool Philharmonic Music room and performed original material alongside Liverpool Hip Hop royalty, No Fakin' and 2Kind.
Banner - The Oracle 1Africa Oyé
The Oracle with Abel Selaocoe (South Africa) - 31/03/22
South African cellist and composer Abel Selaocoe bought his new show to Birkenhead for the first stop on his UK tour. Backed by Manchester Collective and Chesaba, the show brought together stories from Abel’s life in a programme of original compositions and existing masterpieces.
Dur-Dur BandAfrica Oyé
Dur-Dur Band (Somalia) - 20/05/22
Originating from the Mogadishu disco scene, Dur-Dur Band disbanded in the early 90s, as the country plunged into a civil war. Now, they are a time capsule; the latest incarnation of the outfit have breathed new life into the legend of Dur-Dur and with an incredible live show.
DSCF1861Africa Oyé
The 30th Anniversary Africa Oyé Festival - 18 & 19 June 2022
The 30th anniversary festival was the biggest and best incarnation there has been of the iconic date in Liverpool’s calendar. The line up featured massive artists including Fuse ODG, Eek a Mouse, Kizaba, Newen Afrobeat and the legendary Oumou Sangare.
havana-meets-kingston-2022Africa Oyé
Havana Meets Kingston (Cuba / Jamaica) - 31/07/22
Taking place in the main room of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Africa Oyé presented the line-up from Jamaica and Cuba, melding Jamaican soundsystem and bass culture with Cuba’s electrifying and virtuosic Afro-Cuban and jazz traditions.
WitchAfrica Oyé
WITCH [We Intend To Cause Havoc] (Zambia) - 16/08/22
In collaboration with Harvest Sun Promotions and Future Yard, Africa Oyé presented 'We Intend To Cause Havoc' aka WITCH who brought their Zamrock psychedelic juggernaut energy to Birkenhead. The group, who were pioneers in the 70s with their rhythm & blues, did not disappoint.
HailuAfrica Oyé
HAILU MERGIA (Ethiopia) - 06/09/22
Master accordionist and veteran bandleader, arranger and keyboardist Hailu Mergia also graced the Future Yard stage in September. After rising to prominence in Ethiopia in the 1970s, Mergia did not disappoint after his recent rediscovery by Awesome Tapes From Africa.
bcucAfrica Oyé
BCUC (South Africa) - 23/10/22
Oyé and BCUC are no strangers to each other; we know they always put on a huge show and they hit a home run once again at their show at District in the Baltic Triangle of Liverpool in association with Mandela8. The South African powerhouses are now truly part of the Oyé family.
kouyateAfrica Oyé
N’FAMADY KOUYATE (Guinea) - 15/11/22
N’famady’s primary instrument is the balafon – the traditional wooden xylophone, sacred to West African culture and his family heritage of the griot/djeli. As part of Africa Oyé’s mission we want to bring traditional instruments to the forefront of western audiences.
suleimanAfrica Oyé
MIM SULIEMAN (Zanzibar) - 25/11/22
Suleiman has been described as Mama Africa of the modern era. After her amazing live performance at the Africa Oyé festival in 2019 and her digital cooking show and performance as part of our lockdown online show ‘Nyumbani’, Mim returned for the final Oye30 show of the year.
