In Douala, Cameroon,New Bell prison has become an unexpected creative hotspot. Jail Time Records, started in 2018,turns inmates into local music stars. This record label lets prisoners record songs and make videos that reach far beyond prison walls.
Empereur,a leading figure inside, is one of the label's top artists. His video for "Sa Ngando" has over 24,000 YouTube views,revealing talent thriving even behind bars. Their music has fans as far as South Africa, the U.S., and Argentina.
Steve Happi,once an inmate and now co-founder of Jail Time Records,calls it form of resistance . He stresses music's role in building friendships and love among prisoners,saying,"We don’t think anymore about four walls - we find freedom." Even with basic equipment,the studio is a crucial outlet for creativity.
A documentary,Jail Time Records,by Happi and Italian artist Dione Roach, tracks this unique project's journey over six years. It follows inmates like Stone,a former soldier who raps about his life and missing his daughter. Stone, serving ten years for robbery and illegal gun possession,claims innocence while dealing with prison's emotional toll.
Stone talks about missing his daughter,Maira, and the pain of their separation. "It’s been long time. She needs to hear my voice from time to time, so she doesn’t forget about her father," he says,echoing personal struggles of many prisoners .
Jail Time Records' music videos, including Stone's Heart of Stone,boast high production quality and engaging stories, often featuring other inmates. Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi praised the effort for giving prisoners a creative outlet, noting,"Having an outlet is an incredibly powerful and humane thing."
The project began when Roach volunteered with non-profit hosting events at New Bell . After seeing inmates' talent in a dance class, she got prison officials' approval to set up a recording studio. This led to a space where prisoners could explore their musical talents .
Happi, involved after a family dispute wrongly landed him in prison, has been key to studio's success. He was acquitted of charges related to his father's death two years into his sentence . The studio has since released Jail Time Vol 1,an album sharing profits with artists and reinvesting in the label.
Despite New Bell's harsh conditions—it holds 4,700 inmates, four times its capacity—the music initiative brings purpose and community. Human Rights Watch has reported on the prison's unsanitary conditions and violence, including a 2019 cholera outbreak that killed at least six.
Facing these challenges,the project now includes female inmates,with Jeje as the first woman to record with Jail Time Records. Her debut song,Show Me The Way, tells her story of theft and escaping abuse .
Jail Time Records isn't just at New Bell. In 2023,Roach and Happi opened a new studio in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, aiming to replicate their success . The documentary ends with a tribute to six prisoners who died during project's run,highlighting fragility of life in prison.
Though New Bell is marked by despair,the music made there offers hope. Happi says project has changed mindsets, helping prisoners feel valued and part of society. "Before that, they had the stubborn mentality: it's them against the world . They feel now important - they feel like they have place in society," he says,underlining music's transformative power .
