Inside the Recording Studio Transforming Cameroon’s New Bell Prison

• The documentary Jail Time Records chronicles the impact of the first recording studio established inside an African prison, located at the notoriously overcrowded New Bell Prison in Douala, Cameroon.
• Directors Dione Roach and Steve Happi, the latter a former inmate, spent six years filming the lives of inmates who have turned the facility into a self-sustaining "mini city."

Life Inside New Bell

• Built for 800 people but housing nearly 6,000, the prison has distinct social structures, including defined neighborhoods (e.g., the Latin Quarter), a marketplace, and a makeshift police squad.
• Inmates have nicknamed the facility the "11th province" of Cameroon.
• The studio serves as a nonprofit label and a creative outlet for inmates and those readjusting to life outside.

Creative Voices

• The film follows three primary characters: Stone, Transporter, and Emperor, each representing different musical styles and personal histories.
• The music produced reflects modern Cameroonian sounds like Mbolé and fast-paced electronic rhythms, moving away from traditional hip-hop.
• The project earned top honors at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the subsequent media coverage sparked significant pride and viral recognition within Cameroon.

Filmmaking Perspectives

• Dione Roach noted that her presence as a woman in an all-male prison environment helped inmates feel more comfortable, allowing them to drop their guards and express vulnerability.
• The directors emphasize that the film offers a 360-degree look at humanity, challenging common perceptions of prisoners as simply the sum of their criminal acts.