Zomba central prison, built around early twentieth century, was designed to hold just over three hundred prisoners. Housing inmates that have committed serious offences and prisoners sentenced for long terms to life, the population of convicts it houses has increased along the years to approximately two thousand.

This particular Malawian prison is overcrowded with prisoners and rats, the spread of diseases among felons is rapid and the correctional facility has dilapidated. The standard of living within the four walls of this penitentiary is below the accepted minimum standard and only very few things can be more depressing than being confined in these conditions.

Some of these prisoners have managed to find solace in this environment filled with discomfort and misery. With drums made from buckets, guitars, pieces of pipe, a keyboard and spastic electricity supply, they have turned to making music, their sole comfort while serving time. Nobody could have scouted any potential in such an environment except for Ian Brennan, Grammy winning record producer, who went in search of good music in such an implausible place. He unearthed the rough diamonds among the two thousand prisoners to create the album titled ‘I Have No Everything Here’.

They say nothing beats the feeling of doing something from the bottom of your heart without any motive. These prisoners sang genuinely from somewhere deeper than their hearts, their souls, not knowing how far away from Zomba city their music could reach. Majority of the songs on the album are sung in the local Malawian language called Chichewa. Although a language I am not familiar with, it’s not hard to feel their passion from listening to their voices and song titles such as ‘I See The Whole World Dying Of Aids’, ‘Please, Don’t Kill My Child’ and ‘The Weary and the Burdened’ would let you know how heartfelt their music would be if you understood the lyrics. All this spirited singing led to their 20 track album accredited to 16 songwriters with the majority of them being felons and the smaller fraction being prison guard(s). This album has gone on to get a nomination in one of the world’s most prestigious music award shows, the Grammys, in the world album of the year category for 2015 alongside other international acts. Even more impressive is that this makes them the first Malawians to get a Grammy nomination.

Many of the prisoners have been detained without being tried in the court of law mostly due to poverty so money from sales of the album has been used to take up their cases. This has led to successfully freeing three of the women involved while an additional three cases are underway. Sadly one of the women on the album has already passed away in custody. Zomba Prison project is up against Angelique Kidjo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anoushka Shankar and Gilberto Gil for the prestigious award on February 15th. Win or lose on the day, it’s wonderful to know that these underdogs have been heard globally from their overpopulated quarters called Zomba Central Prison.

Source: http://www.untoldafrique.com/2016/02/14/i-have-no-everything-here/

cc: ijebabe, Fynestboi, MissyB3

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Metuh Would be setting up one soon in Kuje Prison.

no matter where u are ,your potentials will still be visible

there is no place one can't get inspiration even in prison they were inspired. impressed

cc @ lalasticlala please push to front page