Cameroon Prison's Record Label Wins Tribeca Film Prizes

New Bell prison in Douala, Cameroon, has established an on-site music studio and record label known as Jail Time Records. This initiative offers inmates a platform for creative expression and has gained international recognition through an award-winning documentary.

An Award-Winning Documentary

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A documentary film focusing on the Jail Time Records project within New Bell prison recently achieved significant success at the Tribeca film festival in New York. The film secured three awards, including the prize for best documentary feature. Directed by Steve Happi, a former inmate and co-founder of Jail Time Records, and Italian artist Dione Roach, the film was developed over six years of filming inside the correctional facility. The documentary explores the transformative power of music for the incarcerated population.

The Genesis of Jail Time Records

Jail Time Records was initiated in 2018 when Dione Roach was volunteering with a non-profit organisation conducting activities within New Bell. Following an impromptu rap performance by inmates, Roach sought and received permission from prison authorities to establish a dedicated music studio. Steve Happi, who had previously been incarcerated at New Bell, was enlisted to manage the studio as a producer and sound engineer. Happi described the studio as a rudimentary space but emphasised its significance as a site for catharsis and creativity, enabling inmates to find a sense of freedom and express themselves.

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The record label operates with a profit-sharing model, reinvesting half of the proceeds from album sales back into the label's operations and distributing the remaining half to the artists. This model was applied to the 2022 album release, 'Jail Time Vol 1'. The artists involved have seen their music reach audiences internationally, with fans in countries including South Africa, the United States, and Argentina. Jail Time Records also organised a large concert for inmates within the prison courtyard earlier this year.

Challenges of Overcrowding and Conditions

New Bell prison faces severe challenges related to overcrowding and conditions. In 2022, the facility housed approximately 4,700 prisoners, which was four times its intended capacity. Human Rights Watch reported on the prison's packed state and unsanitary environment, which contributed to a rapid spread of cholera during an outbreak four years prior, resulting in at least six inmate deaths. The prison also has a history of violence, including an incident in 2008 where guards shot and killed 16 inmates during an attempted escape.

“It's this instrument of resistance… where we can really share friendship, love and our voices can be heard. We don't think anymore about the four walls - we find the freedom.”

Steve Happi, Jail Time Records co-founder

Rehabilitation and Future Expansion

Dione Roach views the Jail Time Records project as a rehabilitation process, stating that the approach is to enter the prison without judgment. She believes that creative processes like music facilitate self-discovery and help individuals come to terms with their actions, potentially leading to positive change. Prison authorities have reportedly been receptive to the project, with the head of the prison attending a recent concert. Jail Time Records has also expanded its reach by establishing a studio in the central prison of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2023, aiming to replicate the success of the New Bell initiative.

The project acknowledges the harsh realities faced by inmates, with the documentary concluding with an 'in memoriam' sequence honouring six prisoners who died during the time the project has been active. Despite the bleak environment, Steve Happi described music as providing inmates with a 'lantern for a brighter future', fostering a sense of importance and belonging within society.