Published on Mon Jul 1, 2019 by
David J Colbran
Last Updated on Tue May 17, 2022
Africa Oye is the UK's largest free African music festival and it just keeps getting better and better. It is an Oye Family now - a solid crew of management and trustees and an audience that knows how to party ! The committment to local traders and community groups is second to none and it shines a beacon against corporate sponsorship and heavy handed security. This year was the 27th annual Africa Oye festival - amazing !
The sun came out on Saturday, as did the crowds - really busy field. Sunday was a bit more hit and miss with the weather but still great fun and great music.
Personally, it's my favourite as well - brilliant world music to my doorstep.
I've been covering the event now for 14 years, ever since I moved to Liverpool and I supply images of the live acts to specialist agent ArenaPAL, where I have built up quite an extensive archive. Images have been licenced to a wide variety of national and international publications over the years - and fingers crossed this year's collection will do equally well over time.
Anyway on to a small selection of my favourites.


BCUC ; band from Soweto, South Africa ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran

CARLOU D ; Senegal Hip Hop, Sufi artist ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran

EMILY DUST ; UK DJ ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran


GASPER NALI ; Babatoni player from Malawi ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran

HORACE ANDY ; a Jamaican roots reggae artist ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran

JAH9 & THE DUB TREATMENT ; reggae artist from Jamaica ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran


MOONLIGHT BENJAMIN ; band from Haiti ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran

OSHUN ; Hip-Hop / Soul duo from the USA ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran


WESLI ; Wesley Louissaint, a Haitian Canadian musician ; at the Africa Oye Festival 2019, Liverpool, UK ; Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June 2019 ; Credit: David J Colbran
Author: David J Colbran
Recently I was back at one of my favourite venues in Merseyside - Spaces at The Spine, covering an conference event called Early Career Researchers Network organised by The British Academy.
The media world doesn't wait. Whether it's a press release, a breaking news story, or a social campaign, you need great images fast. Slow delivery doesn't just cost time — it costs you the story.
Currently available to take on commissions for events, PR and celebrations at the Grand National meeting in Aintree 9th to 11th April - get in touch ASAP - it is a very busy time for me and I get booked up quickly
Andy McLean, Director at First Call Partners.
