The first three acts coming to Liverpool's Sefton Park for this summer's Africa Oyé Festival have been revealed.
Ghanian highlife stars FRA!, Cameroonian soloist Veeby, and guitarist, percussionist and balafón player, Kimi Djabaté will all be appearing at the festival. Plenty more performers are still to be announced for the huge festival, which will take place from June 17-18.
This year's festival follows the 30th anniversary year in 2022, as one of Merseyside's most picturesque green spaces will once again be filled with the music and culture of Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora. It consists of two free days of live music, workshops, DJ stages, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village.
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FRA! is an ensemble from Accra, who take their name from the Akan word for “mix” and is a reference to the elements of the fusion which is found in their music. The band is set to be have a break-out year in 2023 with performances at festivals and venues across the world.
Veeby is a highly respected voice in the burgeoning afrosoul community, and she says that it is through her musicality that she transmits her pride and tells the story of her African roots. Her aim is to "connect the points" of music and history for her fellow Afro-descendants.
Rounding off the first announcement is Kimi Djabaté. The musician from Guinea-Bissau carries on the customs of his griot heritage, singing about the complexity of life in modern Africa for a broad, international audience.
Blending traditional Afro-Portuguese rhythms with Afrobeat grooves, electric desert blues and hints of Afro-Latin swing, Djabaté weaves a unique tapestry of smooth and intricate sounds, featuring intimate songs dedicated to family and friends, and undeniably universal in its themes of love, communication and human connection
Oyé's Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney, said: "As we enter our fourth decade of celebrating the music and culture of Africa and the Diaspora, we're delighted to announce this first wave of artists for the 2023 festival. As part of our 30th anniversary last year we were lucky enough to be invited to music conferences across the world.
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"Our first announcement for Oye '23 features three of the artists we discovered during showcases at industry events such as WOMEX and Mundial Montreal, where we were able to promote Oyé and Liverpool as a destination for international creatives. We can't wait for our Oyé crowds to experience their live sets and be blown away just as we were."
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