DiAsFRICA to play LIMF’s main stage Sefton Park Liverpool

DiAsFRICA to play LIMF’s main stage Sefton Park Liverpool

Local organisation with links to Brazil presents at LIMF’s main stage a unique show (in collaboration with over 10 organisations from Brazil, Africa, Liverpool and Manchester) with live music, movement and visuals showing the connections between Liverpool, Africa, Brazil, America and Caribbean cultures.

BrazUKa* has been working -in collaboration with Liverpool Drum Academy and Movema-to bring to Liverpool audiences an ambitious project:  DiAsFRICA*, a performance piece that tells the story of the transatlantic slave trade, stopping at main ports to show their cultural expressions and links with the UK: from Africa, Brazil, Norh America, and Caribbean arriving at modern urban British culture.

The audience is taken on a journey across the world: starting in West Africa we see traditional drumming and dancing. Travelling across to Brazil we witness the martial art of Capoeira, experience the trance rituals of Candomblé and the carnival fever of samba reggae.  We are moved by the heart felt melodies of the deep American South from slave cotton picking traditions and taken by an explosion of Caribbean reggae all culminating with a 23 piece ensemble of Hip Hop beats, break dancing, 12 piece drumming band, rapping and more!  

When: 24th of August-Sunday- 12pm noon

Where: LIMF (main stage) Sefton Park

An exert of the piece will be also presented as part of the celebrations of Slavery Remembrance Day on the 23rd of August, 2:30pm  at the Maritime Museum outdoor stage

“The show is a feast for the senses, with live music, dance, martial arts…the first show has wowed the audience and - we hope- left them more informed showing how Liverpool connects to Brazil, Africa,etc…DiAsFRICA expresses connections, strips away segregation, motivates mutual respect  – and our hopes of a more peaceful world-as our lyrics say we all share “one love, one life, one world”- Juliana Landim, Artistic Director

Africa Oyé Celebrates Record Crowds At 2014 Festival

 (Image courtesy of Tim Edwards)

Africa Oyé Celebrates Record Crowds At 2014 Festival

Africa Oyé - the UK's biggest and FREE annual festival of African and Caribbean culture and music - celebrated record crowds of between 70,000 and 80,000 people across the weekend at its 2014 event.

In typical Oyé fashion, the masses in Sefton Park were an eclectic mix of every age, race, colour and creed, all brought together to celebrate in one of Liverpool's most beautiful environments. Oyé's Artistic Director, Paul Duhaney said that this year's festival was 'beyond his wildest dreams'.

"Seeing so many people from all walks of life smiling and dancing and generally having a good time was just a dream come true for all of us involved in the festival" Duhaney said."It's what the Africa Oyé movement is all about".

The family-friendly festival was headlined by a fantastic set from Finley Quaye on a warm Sunday evening and also featured sets from acts across Africa and the wider diaspora, including Mose 'Fan Fan' and Jupiter and Okwess International from DR Congo, reggae legends Misty In Roots and an homage to the late Somalian legend, Magool featuring vocalist Farxiya Fiska.

There was also a local flavour to the performances as Liverpool's own percussion troupe Beatlife took to the stage on Saturday and as Toxteth-based BrazUKa presented a vibrant performance of music and dance on the Sunday.

Providing the beats in between the main stage acts were South Africa's own DJ Esa and BBC Radio 1Xtra's DJ Edu - both proving big hits in their first Oyé appearances.

The Oyé Active Zone was incredibly popular throughout the weekend with festival-goers of all ages taking part in free workshops - learning skills in music, dance, percussion and singing. The Active Zone was hosted by Movema and also featured teachers from Merseyside Dance Initiative.

On top of all the music and dance there was a whole host of stalls and food for the audience to enjoy as well as some brand new additions for 2014 - a kids' funfair and the 'Trenchtown' area, which featured the Oyé Inn, Caribbean cuisine and more DJ sets in a chilled, relaxed setting.

It was the first year since Oyé's founder, Kenny Murray retired from the organisation and handed over the artistic reigns to long-time colleague, Paul Duhaney. The new Director dedicated the event to Murray in this year's programme:

"Few would have imagined that Kenny would succeed in building an annual celebration of Africa that is now the biggest of its kind in the country and one that is attended by people from all walks of life" Duhaney, said. "We dedicate Oyé 2014 to this unique man whose 'crazy dream' has become this amazing reality".

Africa Oyé would like to extend their thanks to its funders, sponsors, partners, supporters and of course, the Oyé audience, for helping to ensure the festival remains free and open to all.

For more information on Africa Oyé and Oyé Touring & Trading, check out the links below:

africaoye.com / facebook.com/africaoye / @africaoye #africaoye