Africa Oye, Free African Music Festival – 23rd-24th June 2012

The UK’s largest free African Music and Culture Event, Africa Oye has announced their first acts on the bill…

The line up will include:
YELLOWMAN, SAMBA MAPANGALA & ORCHESTRA VIRUNGA, DELE SOSIMI AFROBEAT ORCHESTRA, THE ENDLESS JOURNEY and YABBA FUNK.

In 2012 Africa Oyé are celebrating 20 years of hosting the largest & loudest free celebration of African music and culture in the UK.

Starting out as a series of small gigs in Liverpool’s city centre in 1992, Africa Oyé has gone from strength-to-strength, and has evolved into the foremost celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture in the UK.
Over the past 20 years Africa Oyé has brought some of the biggest names in music from Africa, the Caribbean and South America to Liverpool, including Tinariwen, Peter Tosh, Femi Kuti, and of course, last year’s headliner, ‘Queen of Reggae’ Marcia Griffiths.

Acts confirmed so far for 2012:
Yellowman and the Sagittarius Band (Jamaica)

“We’re delighted to announce that Yellowman is back by popular demand after his successful 2011 UK tour organised by Africa Oyé. With a career spanning over 30 years, few Jamaican artists can claim to have had such an impact worldwide as this legendary deejay and MC. Massively influential in both reggae and hip-hop, Yellowman’s back catalogue, list of collaborations and producers speaks for itself as he continues to tour worldwide with the now legendary Sagittarius Band. Yet to play the main stage at Africa Oyé, ‘King Yellow’ is sure to tear it up with tune after tune of classics.” – Paul Duhaney (Festival Director)

Samba Mapangala & Orchestra Virunga – Democratic Republic of Congo, Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Orchestra (Nigeria/UK), The Endless Journey (Niger), Yaaba Funk (Ghana/UK).

Finally, we are sure you will all be glad to hear that Africa Oyé will remain a free and unfenced event. The festival has always maintained that they are committed to keeping Africa Oyé open to all. Thanks to all their supporters, sponsors, and the generous donations received at last year’s festival, they have managed to do so once again.

Sefton Park 23rd-24th June, 2012!