Cameroon Label Offers Hope Through Mobile Recording‍ Studio

Updated June‍ 03, 2025
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In⁣ Douala, Cameroon, Jail Time records is taking an innovative approach to finding new talent and combating crime. Their mobile recording studio, a van equipped to record music, travels through the city’s poorest ‍neighborhoods, offering young, aspiring musicians a⁢ chance to showcase their skills.

Steve Happi, co-founder of Jail Time Records, said the goal⁣ is to scout talent and provide opportunities for young people in areas affected ⁤by⁢ drugs and crime. The label, which initially launched inside Cameroon’s prisons, seeks to expand it’s reach by engaging⁣ with youth before they encounter the criminal justice system.The mobile studio attracts crowds as⁤ it rolls into the ghettos, Happi said, ‍opening ⁤the mic ⁢for anyone to freestyle.

Since 2019, Jail Time Records has worked⁤ within cameroon’s prisons, providing inmates with‍ a creative outlet. Following its success,authorities‍ in Burkina Faso have also permitted the label to start a music project in⁢ Ouagadougou’s ⁢prison.⁤ The team is focused on expanding⁣ its impact in ⁢Cameroon by ⁢reaching at-risk youth.

Happi noted that many young people in these communities lack positive role models, often looking up to drug dealers. The⁢ project aims to offer an alternative path.While many‍ disappear after their freestyle session, the label occasionally discovers⁣ talent to bring back to the studio. ⁤Jail Time Records hopes to⁤ eventually release an album featuring songs recorded during these street sessions, showcasing the raw talent found in Douala’s ‍under-resourced neighborhoods. ⁤This ‍initiative provides a creative outlet and a potential career path, steering them away from negative influences⁤ and the lure of gangs.

“I have access to⁢ a studio for free. Creating music gives me a certain freedom, allows me to ⁢express⁤ myself,” said Diblaq, a musician.

One challenge Happi faces is tracking down⁤ these young artists, many of whom lack phones or sell them for speedy money. He is also competing with negative influences, including the rise of “microbes,”⁢ youth gangs known for violence and theft, a problem exacerbated⁣ by increasing drug use in Douala.The Jail Time Records project seeks to address these issues by providing guidance and hope to young people before they ⁣end up incarcerated, complementing their existing work with ⁣current and former inmates.

For young artists like Diblaq, 21, ⁣the opportunity offered by Jail Time Records is ⁤life-changing. The street freestyles ⁣have allowed him to develop his music in new ways. Diblaq said that access to a free recording studio through Jail time Records has given him the freedom to express himself and share his feelings through music. The Jail Time records initiative is helping young people like Diblaq find their voice and avoid the pitfalls of crime and incarceration.