The notorious Cameroonian prison with its own record label

What the report says

BBC Africa reports that inmates at New Bell prison in Douala, Cameroon, have built an unusual music scene through Jail Time Records, a studio and label operating inside the facility. The prison, described as notorious and severely congested, functions in some ways like a self-contained community, with inmate-run message delivery, market stalls and informal order. Within that environment, prisoners have recorded songs and filmed music videos that have found audiences online and abroad.

The project was launched in 2018 after Italian artist Dione Roach encountered prisoners freestyling during a dance class and received permission from prison officials to start a studio. She later worked with former inmate Steve Happi, who became a co-founder, producer and sound engineer. One inmate artist, Empereur, has drawn tens of thousands of YouTube views for a video filmed in prison, while another, Stone, is featured in the Jail Time Records documentary as he raps and tries to maintain contact with his daughter.

The BBC says the documentary, directed by Happi and Roach and filmed over six years, recently won three awards at New York’s Tribeca film festival, including best documentary feature. New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and singer Rita Ora served as executive producers. The label has also released an album, staged a large prison courtyard concert and expanded to the women’s wing, including work by Jeje, its first female artist.

The story matters because New Bell has long been associated with overcrowding, disease and violence. The BBC cites Human Rights Watch reporting from 2022 that the prison held about 4,700 people, roughly four times capacity. Supporters of Jail Time Records present the project as rehabilitation and creative release, while the report also notes concerns about giving visibility to prisoners convicted of serious crimes.