The new talent at this year's Africa Oyé festival

The UK's biggest free festival of African music and culture, Africa Oyé, returns to Sefton Park this June. Artistic director Paul Duhaney tells us more about 'Oyé Introduces', a strand of the programme showcasing local talent.

Africa Oyé festival has to be one of Liverpool's best-loved yearly fixtures, bringing some of the most infectious music coming from Africa and its diasporic communities to a usually sunny Sefton Park every June. The event's community feel, vibrant live music and DJ line-up and eclectic mix of stalls, food and activities make it a fun day out for all ages, whether you want to chill out in the Trenchtown area or keep things going as long as possible with regular selector Esa Williams.

Since 2015, the long-running festival has bolstered its bill with the 'Oyé Introduces' strand, presenting a number of emerging acts from the Liverpool and Northwest scene. Last year saw seven-piece band Pieces of a Man open the main stage on the Saturday as a suitably neo-soul prelude to headliner Omar, while rapper and lyricist Merki Waters kicked off proceedings on Sunday with his production-led social commentary. This year, four artists have been chosen for 'Introduces': Senegalese musician Mamadou Diaw and his group, The Super Libidor Band, who specialise in an intoxicating style of music that combines jazz, funk and Senegalese Mbalax (a popular dance music whose rhythm is derived from the local sabar instrument); Liverpool's XamVolo, who counts Erykah Badu and Miguel among his influences as well as gospel; RIMKA, also of Senegalese heritage with some Mbalax influence and a unique sound led by Karim Mbaye; and last but not least, UK-based reggae artist Sherii Ven Dyer, who will support Randy Valentine.

We caught up with the festival's artistic director, Paul Duhaney, to find out more about this year's fresh talent.

The Skinny: 'Oyé Introduces' was new to Africa Oyé in 2015. What was the impetus behind including this aspect of the programme?

Paul Duhaney: “We've showcased international artists for many years at Oyé now, and every year local acts ask if they can play, or they recommended other local artists. Our mission is to showcase artistic excellence from Africa and the diaspora – across the globe – and this was a way of incorporating the masses of talent we have here in Liverpool and the Northwest.”

Why is it important to have the 'Oyé Introduces' strand?

“In short, to showcase the emerging artists of tomorrow. It's wonderful to be able to include local and regional artists on the bill, making it even more diverse for our audience. It's also a fantastic opportunity for these acts to perform on a line-up alongside international artists, helping their career progression and giving them a great spotlight.”

What have last year's Oyé Introduces artists gone on to do?

“Merki Waters has been busy on lots of things; he even went on to be involved in the MOBOs, and is working hard on his Lab Music Foundation, which has been providing services to meet the need and demands of underprivileged local urban acts in Liverpool.

“Pieces of a Man have been gigging across the country, supporting Snarky Puppy's Cory Henry and raising their profile.”

What brought this year's artists to your attention, and what do you find particularly interesting about the work they are making?

“Mamadou has been plying his trade in and around Liverpool for years and really is a fantastic performer, as well as a big fan and supporter of the festival. I'm so glad he now has the opportunity to play on the main stage and can't wait to see his set.

“Karim (RIMKA) is another Liverpool-based act – an amazing drummer, who's played with the likes of Baaba Maal, Pape and Cheikh, and Ismael Lo. RIMKA is the first band he has led and I've no doubt they're going to kick the festival off with a real energy.

“XamVolo's star is really on the rise. If you're into your soul music you'll have seen his name on the circuit. As soon as I saw him perform live I knew he'd be a great addition to the line-up. He'll be one of those 'we saw him here first' kind of acts.

“And when it comes to Sherii Ven Dyer, she may not be Northwest-based, but she's a really exciting emerging act based in the UK and it also seemed like a good opportunity to showcase a female reggae artist in a male dominated genre.”

What connections do they share with other artists on the bill?

“Mainly for this year, it seems to be West Africa! With Mamadou and his Mbalax influences and RIMKA rooted in Senegalese Sabar drumming, [and] Sona Jobarteh is coming from Gambia. But I would say it's simply their fine talent that means they belong on the main stage line-up for this year.”