George Anjay
New Bell, a notorious prison in Douala, Cameroon, operates as a self-contained metropolis, a stark testament to human resilience and the enduring power of artistic expression within the confines of incarceration. This "city within a city" has cultivated its own unique ecosystem, complete with a fleet of "taxis" – inmates tasked with swift message delivery through its congested courtyards – and its own internal law enforcement, comprising burly prisoners who bolster the stretched ranks of the official guards. A bustling market thrives within its walls, a string of stalls where convicts trade and barter for essential goods and small luxuries, from fried cassava to sweet beignet pastries. The occupants of New Bell have, in essence, adapted the prison’s lax oversight to their advantage, forging a semblance of order and community. This ingenuity finds its most potent expression in Jail Time Records, an on-site music studio and independent label that transforms the most talented prisoners into burgeoning stars.
Among these emerging artists is Empereur, a figure of considerable influence, known for leading gangs both within and beyond the prison’s formidable walls. His musical endeavors have garnered significant attention, with one music video, entirely filmed within the prison’s confines, amassing an impressive 24,000 YouTube views. The reach of Jail Time Records extends far beyond Cameroon’s borders, with songs from its inmate artists finding appreciative audiences in countries as distant as South Africa, the United States, and Argentina. This year, Jail Time Records orchestrated a grand concert within the prison courtyard, a vibrant spectacle that momentarily lifted the spirits of the incarcerated population. Steve Happi, a former inmate and co-founder of Jail Time Records, articulated the profound significance of the project to the BBC’s Talking Movies programme, describing it as "an instrument of resistance…where we can really share friendship, love and our voices can be heard." He further elaborated on the transformative effect of the music, stating, "We don’t think anymore about the four walls – we find the freedom."
The Jail Time Records studio itself is a testament to resourcefulness, a modest space characterized by a small, often sweat-drenched recording booth appended to a room housing a solitary computer. Yet, within this rudimentary setup, profound catharsis and boundless creativity converge, as vividly captured in a recent, critically acclaimed documentary bearing the studio’s name. Directed by Happi and his co-founder, Italian artist Dione Roach, the documentary was the product of a six-year immersion within the confines of New Bell. Its impact was recognized last month when it secured three prestigious awards at New York’s Tribeca film festival, including the coveted prize for best documentary feature.
One compelling narrative woven into the film belongs to Stone, a former soldier in Cameroon’s presidential guard, who now raps with raw intensity into the studio’s microphone. His lyrics paint a stark picture of his internal struggle: "Heart of stone, it’s war. My senses shatter like broken glass. I’m closed and tight like a cell door. No solid ground I slip like a fish." Stone, who is serving a ten-year sentence for robbery and illegal possession of firearms, vehemently maintains his innocence. The documentary poignantly portrays his often-fruitless attempts to connect with his young daughter, Maira, highlighting the profound emotional toll of his imprisonment. "It’s been a long time. She needs to hear my voice from time to time, so she doesn’t forget about her father," he laments in a voice message, his voice heavy with the pain of repeated failed attempts to reach her.
The music video for "Heart of Stone" exemplifies the signature style of Jail Time Records: high production values, captivating storytelling, and the enthusiastic involvement of fellow inmates who contribute as actors and crew. Taika Waititi, the New Zealand Oscar-winning director, who, alongside his wife, singer Rita Ora, served as an executive producer for the documentary, lauded the music’s exceptional quality. He remarked, "The music that comes out of there is amazing. Just in terms of the power of art in relation to redemption and what that can mean to someone who, you know, some of these people are in prison for life. I think having an outlet is an incredibly powerful and humane thing."
The genesis of Jail Time Records dates back to 2018 when Roach volunteered with a non-profit organization that facilitated events within New Bell. During a dance class for inmates, a group of rappers seized the microphone and began to freestyle, their impromptu performance captivating Roach. Impressed by their talent, she approached prison authorities with a proposal to establish a music studio. The authorities proved receptive, and Roach subsequently enlisted Happi, who possessed the skills of a producer and sound engineer, to manage the studio’s operations.
Happi’s own journey to New Bell is as complex as the narratives within the prison. He recounts a severe family dispute over the disposition of his late father’s remains. In the midst of this conflict, his aunt, a high court judge, allegedly orchestrated his incarceration on charges of parricide. Jail Time Records confirms that Happi was ultimately acquitted of the crime two years later. In 2022, Happi, Roach, and the inmates released their debut album, "Jail Time Vol 1." True to the label’s ethos, half of the album’s profits were distributed to the artists, with the remaining proceeds reinvested into the continued operation and expansion of the label.
The studio’s ongoing viability is a matter of paramount importance to many of the artists, particularly given the harsh realities of life within New Bell. In 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that New Bell was housing approximately 4,700 prisoners within its aging and dilapidated infrastructure, a staggering four times its intended capacity. This extreme overcrowding, coupled with deplorable sanitary conditions, facilitated the rapid spread of cholera during an outbreak four years prior, resulting in the deaths of at least six inmates, according to rights groups. New Bell also carries a grim reputation for violence. In 2008, a violent attempted escape led to guards fatally shooting 16 inmates. The documentary unflinchingly captures the pervasive violence among inmates as well, depicting Empereur, who is serving ten years for multiple offenses, extorting a necklace chain and a pair of flip-flops from a visibly distressed young inmate.
When questioned about the potential for the Jail Time Records project to inadvertently glorify Empereur, the son of a traditional Douala chief, and other individuals convicted of violent crimes, Roach offered a nuanced perspective. She explained to the BBC, "The process we’re doing is a rehabilitation process, basically. We enter the prison without any judgment and it’s the only way we can really approach this kind of work. Music, as with any creative process, is also a way of self-discovery… coming to terms with things you’ve done and hopefully changing for the better."
This perspective appears to be shared by the prison authorities. "They were really welcoming of the project. Cameroon is a super musical country…everyone loves music," Happi stated, noting that the head of the prison not only attended this year’s concert but also enthusiastically joined the performers on the dance floor. This official endorsement has enabled Jail Time Records to flourish, extending its opportunities to a broader spectrum of prisoners, including those in New Bell’s women’s wing. Jeje, the label’s first female artist, made her debut in 2022 with the evocative Afrobeats song "Show Me The Way." Her lyrics, "Nobody show me the way, nobody show me the way, I did it all alone," reflect her personal journey, having been incarcerated after stealing money and fleeing an allegedly abusive uncle.
Beyond its work within New Bell, Jail Time Records has strategically expanded its reach beyond Cameroon’s borders. In 2023, Roach and Happi established a similar studio in the central prison of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, located over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away. Jail Time Records harbors aspirations to replicate the success of its original New Bell studio, which now encompasses a thriving record label, a music video production arm, and an award-winning documentary. The film concludes with a poignant "in memoriam" sequence, a tribute to six prisoners who passed away during the tenure of the Jail Time Records project. Despite the seemingly unremitting bleakness of New Bell, Happi asserts that music offers the inmates a "lantern for a brighter future." He observes, "Before that, they had the stubborn mentality: it’s them against the world. They feel now important – they feel like they have a place in the society."
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