On this day every year I walk through Sefton Park to see it being made ready for our greatest cultural festival, Africa Oyé. Where we celebrate each other, our place, where we came from and where we’re going next.

And ultimately on my way to a meet up of the Coming Home board.






I’ll be here all day today with my friends Jayne and Jen from Coming Home. The 24th Africa Oyé and the 24th I’ve been to as well. My own personal Christmas, my sacred festival of all that’s best about Liverpool.
Next it’s off downtown to meet the Coming Home board.








Totally disproving the oft-heard Housing Market Renewal claim that ‘people no longer wish to live in places like this in houses like these.’ Oh yes we do.
While I’m here I meet my friend Bill Maynard, a member of Merseyside Buildings Preservation Trust, here to have a look at what we’ve all done these last few years in Granby.





I’ll talk more about it soon. As Bill and I have arranged to meet again and go inside for a look round. Wow.







Cherished and used all these last years by Urban Strawberry Lunch. Now having to tender for their future occupation.



This ‘Getting Ready for Africa Oyé.


To meet my friends. My Coming Home Liverpool friends.


Angela McKay, Jayne Lawless, Dr Dave Sinclair, Jennifer Graham, Miranda Forward, Lisa Hoyle, Terry May…

Missing from the photos are our national board members. Tracey Vickers, Tom Murtha and Jess Steele. But this is the first ever gathering of the complete Liverpool line-up. We are ready.
Meanwhile back home?

We are Coming Home.
And today me and Jayne and Jennifer will be sat together in Sefton Park at Africa Oyé. We would love to see you there too.