Africa Oye Reveal First Acts for 2015 Festival

UK soul legend Omar will be joined by Mali's BKO Quintet and Lindigo from Reunion Island

Funded by Arts Council England & Liverpool City Council

Sefton Park, Liverpool
Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st June 2015
12:30pm - 9:30pm both days/Admission: FREE

africaoye.com / facebook.com/africaoye / @africaoye

'This isn't just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it's the best' - The Sunday Times

'Perhaps Britain's best free festival' - Clash Magazine

The UK's largest, free African music festival Africa Oye will grace Sefton Park once again this summer and organisers have unveiled the first three acts of a globally-acclaimed line up for the event, including UK soul legend Omar.

Now in its 23rd year, Africa Oye attracted record crowds of around 80,000 in 2014 to the two-day, family friendly city event, and the team are excited to reveal the first three acts for this year's event.

There are precious few, if any contemporary UK artists whose creative credentials and influence extend as far and so consistently wide as Omar. Since first breaking through to worldwide renown all the way back in 1991 with his first releases on Gilles Peterson's seminal Talkin' Loud label, Omar has gone on to work with all manner of musical legends including a certain Stevie Wonder. His original techniques have garnered him a strong legion of followers in the UK and a devoted fan base in diverse regions across the world.

In addition to Omar, the festival has announced two more acts that will grace the Sefton Park stage in June - Malian stars BKO Quintet and Reunion Island's Lindigo.

All the members of Mali's BKO Quintet grew up with the music and culture of their ancestors, both the hunters and the griots. They bring together those separate traditions and the result is a unique sound that lives up to the album's modern title, creating a new tradition of Malian music.

Lindigo is fronted by the charasmatic Olivier Arasta, committed champion for continued development of 'maloya' - Reunion Island's vibrant symbol of creole culture whose strident vocal calls, chanted responses and complex percussion rhythms originated with the slaves brought to work on the sugar plantations and became a weapon of resistance, banned until the 1980s.

Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney is excited at the challenge of following 2014's record-breaking event. "Last year was a really special Oyé, there's no doubt about that. I'm really looking forward to revealing the rest of our line-up for 2015 and proving that we can follow it with another spectacular festival."

The main stage acts will be complemented by the usual eclectic 'Oyé Village', featuring an array of foods from across the globe, traders, DJs, dance classes and workshops in the Active Zone, as well as kids entertainment to keep Sefton Park buzzing throughout the festival weekend.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For press queries/images and interview requests please contact One Fell Swoop
ally@onefellswoop.co.uk/dave@onefellswoop.co.uk

Available for interview:

- Paul Duhaney, Artistic Director

- A selection of artists

ONLINE LINKS

Official Site - africaoye.com

Facebook - facebook.com/africaoye

Twitter - @africaoye / #africaoye

Youtube – youtube.com/africaoye1
Instagram – africaoye
Tumblr - africaoye2015

WHAT IS AFRICA OYÉ?

Having grown from humble beginnings as a series of gigs across Liverpool's city centre in 1992, Africa Oyé is now not only the largest celebration of African and Caribbean culture in the UK, but also one of the biggest in Europe. Each year, the festival attracts a footfall of approximately 45,000 people from all around the UK and abroad.

Artists from over thirty countries have graced our stages over the past two decades including Femi Kuti, Papa Noel, Freddie McGregor, Tinariwen, Baaba Maal, Fatoumata Diawara, Mokoomba, Osibisa and Marcia Griffiths. UK-based artists also feature alongside these titans of world music.

With too many negative representations of Africa frequently shown, Africa Oyé seeks to establish a balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music and artists that make this great continent so vibrant and inspiring. The festival is a truly international event that harnesses the spirit of multiculturalism and tolerance, helping Liverpool lay claim to its 'World in One City' status.

Our vibrant festival continues to add a more diverse element to the city's already renowned rich heritage in arts, music and literature.

In addition to live music, the festival features The Oyé Village which consists of over eighty stalls selling food and drink from all over the world, arts and crafts, African clothing, hair demonstrations, face painting, and much more, in addition to the Oyé Inn.

Africa Oyé would like to thank Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council who continue to provide vital support for the festival and keep it free for everyone.

RECENT AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Named in:

Songlines' 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 Top 10 UK Summer Festivals

Winner of the 'Inspiration Award' at Liverpool's GIT Awards 2014

The Times' top 50 UK Summer Festivals

Telegraph's 100 Best Festivals in Britain

Nominated for:

'Best Medium Sized Festival' – UK Festival Awards 2011

'The Grass Roots Festival Award', 'Family Festival Award'

'Best Toilets' – UK Festival Awards 2010

Misc:
GIT 'Inspration Award' – 2014
Special Recognition Award – 2014 Merseyside Black History Month

Paul Duhaney (Artistic Director) - Male Achiever of the Year 2010 – Merseyside Black

History Month

PRESS QUOTES

'This isn't just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it's the best.'

- The Sunday Times

'Everything you could need for a unique African experience...a true slice of Africa'

- Virtual Festivals

'A Liverpool institution.'

- The Anfield Wrap

'A cracking free day out.'

- Guardian Guide

'Oyé is a chance to relish Afro culture in an unlikely setting.'

- Songlines

'A wonderful celebration of music, food, arts, crafts and fashion from Africa.'

- Big Issue in the North

'Perhaps Britain's best free festival.'

- Clash Magazine

HELP TO KEEP OYE FREE

With rising costs and new regulations, we still need help in keeping the festival free:

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Text Donation Service

Text 'DYYV03' then the amount you wish to donate to 70070

eg. 'DYYV03 £1' to 70070

Network charges may apply

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- Buy an official t-shirt from the on-site festival shop, or online from

http://www.africaoye.com/village.html

- Buy a drink at the Oyé Inn

- Donate whatever you can to our collection buckets on site or volunteer to help out with on-site fundraising. If everyone who comes to the festival does just one of the above, it will go a long way towards keeping Oyé free for years to come. As a registered charity, all proceeds will be reinvested into the organisation.

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For press enquiries please contact holly de sylva - holly@desylvapr.com