![\"Africa](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_14072025MamadouDiaw.jpg\")
A series of fundraising gigs are also taking place throughout the year and into 2026 (Image: Plast-C)<\/p>\nAfter year off, Sefton Park’s well-loved festival will make a comeback for 2026A series of fundraising gigs are also taking place throughout the year and into 2026 (Image: Plast-C)<\/p>\n
With Creamfields and Liverpool Celebrates both taking place this weekend, many will be getting in the festival mood. You might even be looking ahead to next year and getting ready to book tickets.<\/p>\n
Sefton Park<\/a>\u2019s long standing Africa Oy\u00e9 <\/strong>festival will return in 2026, following a fallow year in 2025. Originally a smaller, multi-venue event, Oy\u00e9 now attracts tens of thousands people every June to Sefton Park with 2024 being its biggest year yet.<\/p>\n Despite this success, increased costs associated with the growth of the festival and a rise in industry supplier costs across the sector forced organisers to take a hiatus this summer. Arts Council England and Liverpool City Council<\/a>, the festival’s main sponsors, supported the decision.<\/p>\n However fans will be glad to know that the festival, which is Liverpool<\/a>\u2019s largest celebration of live African music<\/a> and culture, is set for a strong comeback next year with organisers confirming the dates as June 20 and 21<\/p>\n The line-up for the two day festival has not yet been confirmed though fundraising gigs have been held across the city in partnership with various Liverpool venues.<\/p>\n In June, critically acclaimed Senegalese group Orchestra Baobab played the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall with roots reggae legends Black Uhuru performing at Future Yard in Birkenhead<\/a>.<\/p>\n Africa Oy\u00e9 said in a statement on their website last year: \u201cOy\u00e9 was a dream\u2026now please help keep it free. We were blessed with two days of gorgeous sunshine and incredible music in Sefton Park this weekend.<\/p>\n And we can\u2019t bear the thought of not being able to do this again free of charge. If you had a weekend to remember, please donate literally any amount you can afford no matter how small\u201d.<\/p>\n More gigs are planned for the coming months and on 20 January 2026, celebrated Malian songwriter and guitarist Afel Bocoum will perform at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room<\/p>\n A musical companion to Mali\u2019s late great desert blues pioneer Ali Farka Tour\u00e9, he launched a solo career with debut album in 1999, Alkibar (The Messenger), and gained international recognition through collaborations with Damon Albarn, including 2002\u2019s Mali Music.<\/p>\n Now, as one of the Sahel\u2019s most beloved artists and ambassador for endangered instruments like the njurkel lute and njarka fiddle.<\/p>\n Bocoum is set to release singles from his new album Harber in October 2025.<\/p>\n