A Sefton Park Celebration Of African And Caribbean Culture Returns This June For Africa Oyé Festival

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A Sefton Park Celebration Of African And Caribbean Culture Returns This June For Africa Oyé Festival

19/5/2026

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Liverpool was one of the first cities in the country to receive much needed manpower (and womanpower) from the Caribbean nations. In 1947, a whole year before the arrival of the famous HMT Empire Windrush, the SS Ormonde docked directly in Liverpool where several people gladly settled and made lives for themselves. Known for their contribution to hospitals, transport, and dock work, the Caribbean influx of culture enabled Liverpool to regain its world-class hub status.

The Northwest UK city is also the home of the first noticeable black community in Europe. Because of its accepting, tolerant, and fair community spirit, people from abroad found it amicable from as far back as the 1700s. With the heavy trade centred around the docks and the neighbouring Lancashire-based industry, it was clearly beneficial to have links to sunnier climates with all the produce that can be brought in.

According to The Times, the Africa Oyé Festival is not only the largest, it’s also the best African and Caribbean culture festival on these hallowed shores. It’s got a long-standing history of its own, with its roots reaching back into 1992. It’s grown in scope, size, popularity, and fame year on year thanks to its unchallenged roster of black and related talent that performs for happy festival people from all over. This year you’ll get the same thing, DJs, performers, and pop stars will all be among you to treat you to their skills.

Sunday best sees the Grammy-nominated Fatoumata Diawara. Having fled Mali at aged 19, she’s found a home in the UK and we are very glad she did. A famous guitarist and singer, Diawara blends indigenous Wassoulou music with contemporary jazz, folk, and funk. Her music can be fun, and it can also be deep, she isn’t afraid to go into issues such as FGM and forced marriage. As these practices are illegal in Britain, highlighting their reality is important for understanding the pressures people face.

Nigerian artist Patoranking makes his debut appearance in Liverpool, too. He won the MTV Africa Music Awards so is bound to be red hot on stage. He was also listed in Forbes Africa 30 under 30 2020. That’s not something to take lightly. With over a billion YouTube streams, and hit songs such as Babylon, Kolo Kolo, and My Woman My Everything, he’s bound to pull in a fantastic crowd.

Another debut performance for Africa Oyé Festival is the first Black British woman to get to number 1 in the UK with a reggae song. Janet Kay entered the Guinness Book of Records with her hit single Silly Games. It’s almost a bookie favourite that she’ll play it on the Sunday. These are just some of the dozens of artists who will be making your weekend as memorable as it is vibrant, colourful, and easy going. There will be hundreds of stalls, all things Africa and Caribbean, plus lots of your usual stuff too.

Here’s the line “The Africa Oyé festival will take place on 20th and 21st June 2026 in its Grade 1-listed, 200-acre home of Sefton Park – the largest open space in Liverpool.”

Are you going? Tickets and official information

Fatoumata Diawara

Make sure to read the latest book from the author of Alternative Fruit: Seven Centuries of Secrets - A History of Baphomet by Rowan B. Colver

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