Africa Oyé have announced the DJ lineup for this summer’s celebration in Liverpool’s Sefton Park, with an eclectic ensemble of DJs and selectors spinning the best in Afrocentric sounds across the festival site this June.
Two of the UK’s biggest names in African and Caribbean music will be returning to Oyé in 2026 – BBC1 Xtra’s DJ Edu and Seani B – alongside some of the region’s best talent.
The Oyé Stage
Seani B – one of the world’s leading dancehall and reggae DJs – returns to Africa Oyé after a highly successful set in 2024. His weekly ‘1Xtra Dancehall show’ is the most listened to specialist programme on the network, as well as having amassed over 90 million views for his sessions from Jamaica.
Born in London, Seani has incorporated these cosmopolitan surroundings into his unique musical blend. From Dancehall to Hip Hop, R&B to House and even Soca to Rock – if it is musical, Seani will be all over it!
Oyé are also excited to be welcoming back the ‘Afro Boss’ DJ Edu. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Edu began his career as one of the premier Homeboyz DJ crew, a resident at Carnivore, and as a presenter on Capital FM – and has been regular fixture at Oyé over the past decade.
Edu was named one of the 100 most influential Africans of 2024 by NewsAfrica magazine, and it is clear that his goal of ‘putting the latest and greatest sounds produced by Africa’s new generation on the global map’ has become a reality. Edu continues to introduce fresh faces to the UK music scene through his BBC Radio1 and 1Xtra platforms, helping to expand the global reach of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro-fusion and more.
Due to popular demand, this year both Seani B & DJ Edu will also be playing an evening set on Oye’s dedicated DJ stage – giving them the opportunity to take the audience on a dancefloor journey. While they do so, the main stage will be covered by Liverpool-based DJ and head honcho of the popular Afrosentrik nights – SoulfulTiz.
The Oye DJ Stage – Trenchtown meets Freetown
Oye’s DJ stage provides the perfect platform to showcase the purveyors of Afrocentric sounds in the region, featuring DJs and collectives who are supporting the culture all year round. The festival is welcoming back a host of familiar faces – with some of the region’s best established and emerging talent, alongside international artists.
Returning favourites include G33 & Hannah Lync (both of Girls Don’t Sync) with a set that fuses house, UK gargae and global club sounds, following their incendiary set in 2024. Also back at Oye in 2026 are Liverpool-based clublight OTRA, bringing residents Dharma Collective and RoBaSca, for a set of globally influenced club music and percussive dancefloor sounds.
Oyé regulars Dub Defenders and guests Sugarshack Sound will be playing heavyweight roots, dub and stepper selections featuring guest MCs Andre Jahnoi, Nicky Talent, Smokey and MC Blista. The stage will also feature Liverpool DJ royalty – with selectors from No Fakin’ and Lyrical Compact, and a host of friends, making their return.
The 2026 festival will also welcome Chop.Life Partee – serving up amapiano heat and bringing high energy to the dancefloor, as well as Liverpool heavyweights Culture Deck with a collective of L8 selectors, and Decks in the City presenting a 2-hour takeover showcasing a cross-section of its community, with ‘Mums in the Mix DJs‘ alongside core residents, bringing together different journeys, sounds and perspectives on the decks for a high-energy, genre-spanning session.
Artistic Director of Africa Oyé, Paul Duhaney said: “Edu is part of the Oyé family and we’re delighted he can join us for the first festival in this new era. And Seani’s debut in 2024 went down so well we just had to bring him back this year. Both of them playing a headline set on the DJ stage for the first will be something special! For DJs based more locally – the lineup really is a testament to the talent that this city is producing behind the decks.”
Expect a diverse range of Afrocentric and Caribbean sounds over the festival weeknd, with reggae, roots, dub, bass music, hip hop, house, garage, Afro-house, amapiano, Afrobeats, Afro-synth & Afro-disco, and much more from this eclectic lineup.
The Africa Oyé Festival takes place on 20th and 21st June in Liverpool’s Sefton Park. Tickets are available now for both days via TicketQuarter at africaoye.com.
