African Music Arrives in Liverpool with Africa Oye 2007

Liverpool, UK – Africa Oye, the UK’s largest free African music festival, returns to Liverpool’s Sefton Park this June, Now celebrating its 14th year, the successful event has attracted a wealth of international stars to Merseyside, looking to make Africa Oye 2007 the most spectacular yet.

Running all day on both Saturday 16th June and Sunday 17th June, the family- friendly celebration of cultural diversity has become an annual must-see in Liverpool’s social calenda; 2006 saw 40.000 people in attendance for the weekend’s events and organizers believe that this year is set to draw even bigger crowds.

Taking in the best sights, sounds and sensations of African and African Diaspora music, dance and performance, the artists this year include Andy Palacio and the Garifuna Collective (Belize), Ska Cubano (Cuba), Papa Noel  & Sana Congo (Cubal/DRCongo), LA 33 (Colombia), Culture (Jamaica), Odemba OK Jazz All stars (DR Congo), and Daby Balde  (Senegal). All confirmed to play this year’s event, with many others still awaiting confirmation.

In recent years, artists including Femi Kuti, Baaba Maal, Habib Koité, the Morgan Family Heritage, Luciano and Tinariwen have taken to the stage. This year, aside from the extensive musical program, festival-goers must be sure to make time to look around the many stalls (booths) of the International Village, where food and crafts from all over the world are on offer.

 

Clothing, hair demonstrations and face painting are also available throughout the weekend, along with many other activities – including a climbing wall, speed minton and moonwalker dome- to suit the hole family.

In its 14-year history, Africa Oye has played host to artists from Benin, South Africa, DR Congo, Madagascar, Guinea, Lesotho, Somalia, to name but a few. Its organizers say: ‘Africa Oye concentrates on portraying the continent in a positive way. There are too many stories of war, AIDS, poverty, and famine. We wish to concentrate on the incredible range of musicians and artists who hail from the continent."

With last year’s Africa Oye receiving extensive coverage from television, radio and print media alike – including the involvement of North American cable network The Africa Channel, who filmed the festival weekend and broadcasted it to their 10 million subscribers – the festival has now become an internationally renowned event.

For updates on the festival, featured artists and musicians, visit www.africaoye.com.