Rise Up Jamaica Nets 45,000 Euros

The ‘Rise Up Jamaica’ concert, a benefit concert organized by the Summerjam Festival, has netted over 45,000 euros to support communities in Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa, with a special focus on the parish of St. Elizabeth.

The show was held at the Live Music Hall in Cologne, Germany on December 14th.

The event brought together internationally acclaimed artists with strong musical and cultural ties to Jamaica, using music as a powerful expression of solidarity.

The lineup included Gentleman, Bonez MC, Trettmann, Patrice, Kumar Fyah, Treesha, Inti, and Milaa. Major star Gentleman performed for almost an hour, dropping his hits like Intoxication, while Kumar Fyah hit a deep emotional chord with the audience with his rendition of Judgement Day while playing his guitar.

“Thanks to the generosity of the audience, artists, and partners, the concert raised a total of €45,000. Every single euro donated was matched by the Summerjam Festival, significantly increasing the overall impact of the initiative,” Marius Brozi of the Summerjam Festival, said.

Brozi said the decision to match every donation reflected the festival’s long-standing bond with Jamaica.

“Matching every euro donated through the Summerjam Festival was very close to our hearts. Jamaica is not only the musical foundation of Summerjam – the country, its people, and its culture are deeply connected to who we are. In times like these, giving back is both a responsibility and a privilege.”

All proceeds will be donated to Help Jamaica e.V. and will be used to support the recovery and rebuilding of Black River High School in St. Elizabeth, which was severely

affected by the hurricane. The aim is to help restore the conditions necessary for safe, stable, and regular schooling for students as quickly as possible.

In addition, parts of the donations will be allocated to provide targeted support to smaller schools in the affected districts, contributing to the wider recovery of educational facilities across the region.