PREPARATIONS are under way for Sefton Park to host the UK’s largest free celebration of African music and culture this weekend.

This is the 17th year of Africa Oye, which has grown from a series of small gigs in the city centre to a two-day festival in one of Liverpool’s most beautiful public spaces.

Last year’s event attracted an audience of more than 20,000 people and its organisers are hoping to break all records this year.

“The great thing about Africa Oye is that we try to make everybody feel they can get involved whether they are young, old, rich, poor, black or white,” says events manager Paul Duhaney.

“We seem to attract quite a unique audience and it’s really important for a city like Liverpool which is developing and growing that events that bring people together take place.”

Previous festivals have played host to musicians from nations right across Africa, as well as South America and the Caribbean. However, this year’s event hit some difficulties with artists’ working visas, as the regulations have changed since last year.

But Duhaney and the festival’s director, Kenny Murray, found a way around the problem: “We had to mainly focus on artists based in Europe or with European residency permits to make sure they could all come over,” he reveals.

“We start deciding on who to approach in October and go through a pile of CDs and DVDs. It sounds quite exciting, but it’s a long process.”

There is one artist from farther afield, however, that reggae fans will be thrilled to see performing at the festival – Freddie McGregor.

“It’s quite a coup that we’ve got him here in the UK,” says Duhaney.

“He’s one of the most prolific and well-known reggae artists to come out of Jamaica since Bob Marley.”

Oye’s touring arm, launched earlier this year, has also signed McGregor up to a tour of British venues.

This weekend’s event features a wide range of world music, as well as more than 40 stalls selling food, drink, arts and crafts and fashion from Africa and beyond.

There will also be face painting, bouncy castles and workshops to keep the children entertained.

And, for the first time, the festival will have a beer tent.

Aside from its annual two-day event, Oye has plenty of other plans for the rest of the year.

The organisation is also working on an educational project to be carried out in Liverpool schools during the autumn and will be releasing more details at a later date.

A second UK tour will star Odemba OK Jazz All-stars, from DR Congo, in September and October, with a Liverpool date to be confirmed.

AFRICA Oye 2009 takes place at Sefton Park this weekend, with events from 12.30-9.30pm on both days. Admission is free.

Further details at www.africaoye.com