Sona Jobarteh, Guy One, Binhan to perform at Africa Oyé

The annual event will take place at Sefton Park, Liverpool, on 16 and 17 June. The festival moved to Sefton Park in 2002 but was first held in 1992. 

“Sefton Park will once again be taken over by the music and culture of Africa and the diaspora for two free days of fantastic live music, DJs, dance, workshops, food stalls and a range of traders in the Oyé Village,” the organisers, who have made public the first batch of artists for this year’s festival, said.

Among those billed to perform is Binhan from Guinea Bissau. “His committed and realistic lyrics, whilst political crises dominated the news of his home country, resonated with audiences far and wide,” a festival statement says. “Binhan’s reputation has now grown to the point where he can count the likes of Joss Stone and cult band Super Mama Djombo amongst his collaborators.”

Also performing is Ghana’s Guy One, a traditional music artist who plays the kologo. Described as “a man who brings a unique sound from Ghana”, Guy One has played concerts around the world, and in 2016 performed in Lagos along with the German occasional Afrobeat band Polyversal Souls.

“Guy built up a fervent following in local villages amongst the Frafra people in northern Ghana, in which no funeral or wedding would take place without his soaring voice and deeply rhythmic playing,” the statement said.

While Guy One and Binhan might be unknown to the regular African Oyé crowd, Jobarteh will be familiar only to some members of the audience. The kora-playing artist performed at the festival on a rainy day in 2016.

A statement from the festival hails Jobarteh as “a modern-day pioneer in an ancient, male-dominated hereditary tradition that has been exclusively handed down from father to son for the past seven centuries”. She is also touted as having “modernised the presentation of kora music and brings a rhythmic edge to her compositions that fits with her remarkable voice".

Speaking about the trio of artists, artistic director of the festival Paul Duhaney said: “It’s been far too long since we had an artist from Guinea-Bissau so Binhan’s appearance will be a perfect way to remedy that.”

“Sona deserved a far bigger audience than she had on a rain-soaked day a couple of years ago, so we’re really pleased to be able to bring her back. And Guy One is one of those musicians who is a true master of his art. His set is going to be something really special.”

Entry to the Africa Oyé festival is free.