Behind the walls of New Bell, a notorious prison in Douala, Cameroon, a unique phenomenon has emerged. Inmates have created their own music studio and label, Jail Time Records, which has become a beacon of hope and creativity in an otherwise bleak environment.
The music studio is a small, sweaty recording booth attached to a room with a solitary computer, but it's the site of great catharsis and creativity, as seen in the acclaimed documentary that shares its name.
The story of Jail Time Records began in 2018 when Italian artist Dione Roach volunteered for a non-profit organization running events inside New Bell. During a dance class, a crew of rappers took over the microphone and began freestyling, impressing Roach with their talent. She asked the prison authorities for permission to start a studio, and with their approval, enlisted former inmate Steve Happi to run the studio as a producer and sound engineer.
Today, Jail Time Records has become a platform for inmates to express themselves, share their stories, and find a sense of purpose. The studio has produced talented artists like Empereur, who has gained a significant following online, and Jeje, the label's first female artist. The music videos produced by Jail Time Records are high-quality, captivating, and often feature fellow inmates as actors and crew members.
The project has gained international recognition, with the documentary winning three prizes at the Tribeca film festival. The film showcases the power of art in relation to redemption and features interviews with inmates, including Stone, a former soldier who was sentenced to 10 years for robbery and illegal possession of firearms.
The music that comes out of Jail Time Records is amazing, says Taika Waititi, the New Zealand Oscar-winning director who served as an executive producer for the documentary. It's an incredibly powerful and humane thing, providing an outlet for those who are incarcerated.
Despite the harsh conditions and violence that plague New Bell, the music studio has created a sense of community and hope among the inmates. The project has expanded to other prisons, including one in Burkina Faso's capital city, Ouagadougou, with the goal of replicating the success of the original studio.
For the inmates of New Bell, music has become a lantern for a brighter future, providing a sense of importance and belonging in a world that often seems determined to forget them. As Steve Happi says, Before the music studio, they had a stubborn mentality: it's them against the world. Now, they feel important - they feel like they have a place in society.