Africa Oyé is the UK's largest celebration of African music and culture and 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.

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 40 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.

Africa Oyé launched an additional strand of work in April 09 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.