Africa Oyé: Everything you need to know as the festival returns to Sefton Park for 2022

Africa Oyé is back taking place in Sefton Park on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2022.

Africa Oyé, one of Liverpool’s best-loved family festivals, is back this weekend with a massive celebration of all things Africa.

Now in its 30^th anniversary year, it’s the biggest live festival of African music and culture in the UK, bringing an incredible line-up of international artists to the city.

After two years of postponements due to the pandemic, the OYÉ team has gone all-out for 2022 to create an amazing mix of award-winning, established artists alongside exciting local talent.

The Guide Liverpool will once again be bringing you lots of coverage from Sefton Park as official media partner for the event so keep it on our socials @TheGuideLpool.

It’s set to be a really special weekend so if you’re planning to go to Africa OYÉ, here’s everything you need to know …

When is it on?

The festival happens over two days, Saturday and Sunday June 18 and 19. The first artists are on the main stage on both days from 12.30pm until 9.30pm.

Where is it?

It’s in Sefton Park again this year, which has been home to OYÉ since 2002. If you’re going by Merseyrail, St Michael’s station is the nearest for Sefton Park, or you can catch buses 75, 80 or 80A from Liverpool ONE bus station or Great Charlotte Street to Ullet Road which leads to the entrance of the park.

Do you need tickets?

No – Africa OYÉ is a free festival, so no need to book. Organisers work hard to keep OYÉ free, and festivalgoers can support the event by buying drinks at one of the OYÉ Inns, getting some official merch, or donating into one of the buckets which you’ll spot being carried by volunteers on site over the two days.

Who’s going to be on the main stage?

There’s a great line-up on Saturday and Sunday, including British-Ghanaian rap superstar Fuse ODG, Grammy award-winner Oumou Sangaré, reggae legend Eek-A-Mouse and Newen Afrobeat, one of the biggest afrobeat bands in the world. Here are the set times for the OYÉ main stage:

Saturday

12.30pm-12.50pm: Staged Kaos

1.10pm-1.35pm: Nazeem

2pm-3.10pm: Kizaba

3.35pm-4.45pm: Elida Almeida

5.05pm-6.15pm: Fuse ODG

6.35pm-7.45pm: Newen Afrobeat

8.15pm-9.30pm: Eek-A-Mouse

Sunday, June 19

12.30pm-12.50pm: L100 Cypher

1.10pm-1.35pm: Ni Maxine

2pm-3.10pm: Valérie Ekoumé

3.35pm-4.45pm: Kanda Bongo Man

5.05pm-6.15pm: Tabanka Djaz

6.35pm-7.45pm: Santrofi

8.15pm-9.30pm: Oumou Sangaré

What about other stages?

There are two others – Freetown and Trenchtown, which will have DJs on through the day from around 12.30pm to 9pm. At the far end of the park, Trenchtown is soundtracked by some of the country’s top Afro-centric DJs as well as home-grown DJs playing dub, reggae, ska, jazz, Afrobeat, house and much more. Trenchtown also has the original OYE Inn, a merchandise stall, plenty of space for dancing and chill-out seating area. Freetown will host a line-up of DJs playing Afrobeat, reggae, dub, funk, soul, hip-hop and jazz, with seating and a dancefloor.

There’s also the OYÉ Village and OYÉ Active Zone

Outside of the three music stages, there’s loads more going on and OYÉ Village is the centre of it. You’ll find food stalls selling authentic African, Mediterranean, Asian, English and Caribbean cuisine as well as snacks, fresh fruit smoothies and hot drinks. There’ll also be stalls with arts, crafts, hats, clothing, jewellery and accessories.

The Active Zone has lots for kids to do including storytelling, face painting, drumming workshops, arts and crafts, all put on by top local and international companies.

There’ll be a range of dance, song and drumming for the whole family to try, with free workshops for all ages and abilities, until 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.

The Village also has a funfair and the LFC Foundation will be there offering free sporting activities for kids and families.

Don’t miss the parades …

On Sunday, the fabulous Katumba drummers will bring a flavour of UK big beat, Caribbean calypso and the carnivals of Brazil with a performance at the OYÉ Active Zone from 1pm, then parades from 1.45pm and 3.45pm which everyone can get involved in!

And then it’s on to the after-parties

The Africa OYÉ vibe doesn’t stop when the park line-up finishes, there are after-parties happening too with a percentage of proceedings going towards supporting next year’s festival.

The African Caribbean Heritage Centre in L8 has a big one on Saturday from 9pm to 3am with DJ Acapony, DJ Eddy and special guest. District in the Baltic will also be throwing an after-party on Saturday from 7pm til late with reggae star Robbo Ranx plus DJs, and the Handyman on Smithdown has Disco Africa on Saturday from 8pm til late. On Sunday, Melodic Distraction hosts In Fine Style sessions, with DJs from 6pm-11pm.