Exclusive Interview about Africa Rise Up*Music4Charity with the Founder, Organizer and President.

1. AFRICA RISE UP!!! Exclusive interview with
Dewey & Fiya
Posted On 10 Jan 2015
By : vozAfric
It’s really a great priviledge to have Dewey & Fiya in the house for a gran interview, despite their very tight schedules. In this
revealing interview, Dewey & Fiya talks about their life, how they found themselves, and giving birth to a huge, strong and
reliable organisation called Africa Rise Up! It may interest you to know that one of the founders making things to happen is not an
African but German. Read…
VOZAFRIC: About Dewey & Fiya?
…to say something about ourselves is not easy at all…
Dewey was born as Alfred Norman Reid in Hannover Jamaica. He had a dream… his ambition was to be a youth football coach,
though football and sport generally is still part of his life. After leaving the institute of sports, where he did sports organization, he
ventured into music, by chance. His first tour was Dennis Brown, Lt. Stichie and Freddie McGregor back by Lloyd Parkes, and we
the people’s band, this was way back in 1989. He then spent 23 years working and touring with Jimmy Cliff. This sojourn ended
in 2003. Since then, he has worked, mostly as an independent Tour Manager/Booker, with the likes of Gregory Isaacs, Cocoa Tea,
Frankie Paul, the Mighty Diamonds, Luciano, Tarrus Riley and others.
Fiya (pronounced as “Fire”) was born as Kirsten Maria Uhl in Glabeck Germany had also a dream…She wanted to be a trainer
for diving and volleyball, and she did it until she had a sport accident, then she stopped doing professional sports. And so would
life be, and everything came up different. Her original profession is specialist for European tax and law. In 1998 she came
accidently in touch with Reggae Artist, and up from then she also started Touring and Hospitality in the scene. Further, she was
involved in her first CD production and working for many festival promoters by doing stage concepts and line-ups till today. The
largest festival beside Essen Original 3 day festival (ca. 500.000 visitors) was Klangräume Essen 7 days festival (ca. 700.000
visitors ) she can count her references.

2. VOZAFRIC: How you met?
Dewey was on tour with Cocoa Tee and Frankie Paul…Fiya picked up Frankie Paul for a Dub Session…
VOZAFRIC: Your first thought about each other?
Dewey: Yo this daughter is useful.
Fiya: What a cool Tour Manager…(and she don’t say that often).
Slowly they found out that they have the same visions and matching in many different ways equal together, and the day of
“Deweyfiya” was born.
VOZAFRIC: Your Motto?
There is nothing shame about to fall, but it’s a shame not to stand up!
VOZAFRIC: About your organization?
Africa Rise Up is a project created by Alfred Norman Reid & Kirsten Uhl in January, 2014. Finally in October 2014, the project
became registered as a non-profit organization in Germany. Both working over 20 years in entertainment world-wide with major
Raggae artist, also in Africa. Through their experiences over the years, they can count international references. Both are
representing peace, love and development transferred to African Rise Up.
VOZAFRIC: Your mission?
 Empowering people
 Employment and self-employment
 Peace and development
 Healthcare
 Education
 Orphan care
 Music and art education
 Intercultural exchange
VOZAFRIC: Your vision?
The vision is to create innovative productions and products on the highest level and quality promulgated legal rules and
regulations of international business and marketing standards and aspects. This productions and products should secure the
income of our partners “Non-Profit Organizations” to be independent of donations and aid, to continue their humanitarian work
constantly without any future fears.
VOZAFRIC: Who are your team?
The HQ team who is sitting in different Departments:
Kirsten Uhl (Germany, ARU President), Project Management, Marketing, Conception Implementation, Branding

3. Alfred Norman Reid (Jamaica) Tour Coordination, Tour Management, Bookings.
Toney Owens (Jamaica) Music Productions, Tour Management, Bookings.
Viola Schmitt (Germany, 3VisionArt) Design, Flyer Poster, Video Processing and Realization.

4. Chidi Chidi Umeh (Nigeria) General Representative, On the Ground.
Kelvin Grant (UK) – formal original musical youth member – Technique and Quality Management “House of Skill”
VOZAFRIC: Let us know the challenges you face running this organization?
At the beginning people misunderstood our content. They got the view that there is a rich Non-Profit Organization coming from
Europe to donate or aid their non-profit organizations. Now you can imagine that there was a big hype about the project, as a lot
people on the ground where seeking for money. I got many mails every day such as: ‘oh please we need school supplies’, ‘we
need money for food’, ‘we need new computers’ and so on. So my general answer after a while was: Africa Rise Up is not a
“private Banker”… and “money never falls from the sky” (also not in Europe). NOT that I don’t understand the request, I fully
do…
But the whole concept is “Help4Selfhelp”, as we represent the viewpoint that Africa and its citizens can’t develop and rise by
donations or aids. So the teaching and motivation starts here. Which is sometimes like “Move Mountains”, people in general love
their custom, being afraid to start something new.
In this one year, I found a lot of people who loves the project itself (superficial), but they are not able to fit in the structure, which
is also standing for High Quality and Consciousness. People describe themselves as professional, but they act like in the 80’s.
Others think they can do what we do, and at the end of the day they fail. Because they see the ready product, production or
deal, but not the work, the knowledge, the efforts and discipline which is behind.
Right now I am dealing with 14 different African Countries, in some countries we have 2-3 Non Profit Organizations we are
working with. I love every country in Africa, you know… Every country member loves his/her own Country most, which is
understandable, but don’t force me to choose your country as my personal favorite, same with the non-profit organizations. All of

5. the chosen are real peerless and doing elementary works on the ground. Unity is the only key, and it is not a competition, it is
a mission. Don’t force me to choose a country or organization as my personal favorite. I love all and each single one.
We have to use the social network professionally wise to represent our work. That means we have to use all channels such as
Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Google+, Linkin etc. Sometimes it is not easy for me to see that people constantly trying to promote
themselves as humans instead of their work and the content of their work. The person itself is not really my interest, my
interest is, and will always be, the work and the content of the work the person is doing. Some people posting and posting and
posting without message. For me, the message and where I want to reach out is always on focus. I see myself also secondary, I
am not important. Important is only the project within its message and goals for Africa.
African mentality is the total opposite of mine as European, especially as German. Even though people are saying that I am not
typical German (whatever it means). The fact is, I like to speak out things directly, also if I am disturbed by someone’s actions in
public, in context with the project. It is my job to correct them, as I am responsible for the branding and corporate identity. I like
to be straight to people and not “beating around the bush”. I guess sometimes people take that attitude too personal and not
objective.
In this one year, I was also challenged by other organizations who want to associate with ARU, and I thought it could be good for
Africa and the project itself. But soon, I found out that they just wanted to use me personally and the ARU to make money. In
clear text: they wanted to start rob Africa “undercover” the blanked of ARU. I am happy that I found out this “political
game” they wanted to play with me, and I cut all connections in all its consequences. Some African people were and still are
members of that organization, and even before me, they start rebel against them, because the only intention of that organization
was to get “Membership-Fee” from Africans. The same people now holding “flag high” for that organization, which is simple
not understandable for me. This kind of attitude “rotating with the wind” is very strange to me…and is not a characteristic to build
any trust in.
Financial aspect. Since ARU is active, I personally reduced my active work (as professional accountant in European Tax and
Law, as the work for ARU took more and more of my time. That means I reduced my living standard to the essential needs. I
never asked and will not ask for donations or aid. If companies want to become a sponsor for the project to cover cost which we
have in Germany, I am fully okay with that. Africa Rise Up is my Mission. I want to see the continent and its People rise and
shine.
VOZAFRIC: Since you also have projects in Africa, how do you cope, especially in
Ebola hit countries?
Well, this Ebola outbreak is just a next challenge. On our topic we are dealing with Liberia and Sierra Leone since April 2014, to
the others, we have no contact for the moment. It is very clear that we can’t do any festival unless the outbreak is totally under
control, but we have other ways to support the people on the ground. I am in personal contact with Sahid Victor Vandy, who is
one of the volunteers in the Ebola areas. He keeps me updated with pictures and other information about the actual status. Further,
we’ve already done radio interviews which were hosted from the UK, Galaxy Radio FM (Empress Diane A King), Peterborough
FM (DJ Linksy), Rhythym FM Nigeria (Covenenat Child and ItalSounds) World-Wide, also direct to Sierra Leone. Every radio
interview were also attended by artistes: Kelvin Grant (original musical youth), Ky-Enie, Iza, Shocking Murray, Chidi Chidi
Umeh, Nu Chilly etc. Radio interviews are important to encourage the population, to show them that they are not alone!
Right now we have T-Shirts for online sales with Brother Merchandise out of Florida. For Liberia, we could handle a deal over for
about 20.000 shirts. The profit of sales will be directly used for Ebola Outbreak Orphans. A lot of them are homeless and need our
support.
We will always find ways to support this Ebola Ourbreak Countries. The ideas are growing. Probably I personally and Kelvin
Grant will fly to Liberia in February…. No, No, we are not crazy… there are possibilities to protect ourselves.

6. VOZAFRIC: What are your future projects?
As mentioned before we are collaborating with 14 different countries and Non Profit Organizations to organize the Festivals for
this year. The Sponsor request season has just started. Please read below:
1. Burundi: Club des tambourinaires Rukinzo legacy, Mr. Christophe Kinshasa, Traditional Drums and Dance.
2. Gambia: YAFSSE (Youth Action for Food, Self-Sufficiency and Education), Mr. Cherno Jallow
3. Ghana: SIMBA Ghana, Mr. Abdul Mumin Sofi Yamzza, provide skills and knowledge to the youth strata of society so that
they can recognize and use the resources around them for their holistic empowerment as well as promote good governance.

7. 4. Ghana: HOP IN ACCADEMIE, Mr. Maccarthy Lamotey. Hopin presents the best educational content online, apps and tools
and transforms it into a strong self-directed learning experience via coaching, P2P learning, mentoring, projects and experimental
learning in a physical setting.
5. Kenya: Cheery Children Education Center, Mr. Jairus Makambi, Education Today. Hope for Tomorrow.
6. Liberia: DPA Development Poverty Action, Mr. Sahid Victor Vandy, reaching out with Volunteers wherever it is needed.
Building up a Children Village for Orphans of EBOLA Outbreak.

8. 7. Malawi: Empowerprojects, Mr. Anthony Hall, Coordinating 38 villages in a vast isolated area can be tough. Isolated villages
also means people lack a central place where development initiates can emanate from. This is the case in Kapita. Land was
earmarked for development of a regional community centre which has potential to become an epicentre for development. The
community centre being constructed in Zatuba Village is to house offices, a community hall, a community library, a community
bank, a nursery school, a medical dispensary, food/seed bank and a community radio station.
8. Nigeria: Youth Education and Leadership Initiative (YELI) International, Mr. Amedou Monday, The overall goal of the
proposed project is to provide peace education and intensive leadership training interventions, turn the trend that often make many
Nigerian communities become battlefields for violence during elections and the like, where youths are rather than empowered to
promote peace and non-violence, support success, and or be part of transparent and credible leadership formation, are hired and
armed to commit crimes and violent conflicts.
9. Nigeria: Beautifull EVES of Africa, Mrs. Ngozi Okere, Organization for the purpose of grooming and projecting the hidden
treasures embedded in the lives of the African indigent Children, youths and women.

9. 10. South Africa: Golden Youth Club, Mrs. Mahlangu Noma, GYC is a young dynamic project with a passionate vision to make
performing art more accessible to audience in South Africa and across the world. It is also promoting Africa Art & Culture to keep
Tradition alive.
11. South-Sudan: Teen Confront Organization, Mr. Daniel Mwaka, is a non profit charity Organization dedicated to improve
and empower the moral standards of our young generation.
12. Tanzania: Matumaini Child Care Center, Mr. Anthony Hall (rose of Education globally) , Matumaini, meaning ‘Hope’ in
Swahili, is located in Rau Village at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. The center’s mission is to house and educate orphaned and
vulnerable children, ranging in age from six to eighteen years.

10. 13. Uganda: PMK Save the future, Mr. Lucky Luggya Peter, Organization that provides physical and psychosocial support to
marginalized and at-risk Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Vulnerable Youths and the HIV positive living in the Wakiso district.
14. Uganda: THE CONSTITUTION OF VISION RECOVERY PROJECT, Mr. Marc Rasheed support the education and
welfare of vulnerable children from poor, needy and disadvantaged families.
15.
Swaziland: Mr. Bernhard Reck TBA, IMBALI Foundation Empowerment Programme for Swazi Girls using traditional and
spirituality as a strength.
16. Ethiopia: Dennis Thomas TBA
17. Sierra Leone: Sahid Victor Vandy TBA

11. VOZAFRIC: Send greetings to your fans and words of encouragements to people
in Africa
I & I want to give thanks to my HQ Team who are my real backbones. Also to the teams on ground! To the artist who voiced on
the CD Sampler Production (which will be out soon), to the artist who took their time to make all this video jingles. To Empress
Tamika who was so kind doing the video ‘African Woman’ for us.
I have only one ambition you know, I only want to see “Africa Unite” and “Africa Rise Up”. I want to see mankind live together –
black, white, Chinese…everyone. That is all. GOD / JAH / ALLAH BLESS AFRICA!!!
To contact Africa Rise Up:
Call: 0049-15204044598
eMail: jusmusic63@yahoo.de
Web: http://jusmusic63.wix.com/africariseup
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