Reggae's most
transcendent and iconic figure, Bob Marley, once said - “One good thing about
music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”. This rings true for many prisoners
in South Africa who have been moved by the Poetso Music Project.
Poetso Music Project is a prison outreach programme founded
by Trevor Smith in 2005, focusing on empowerment and upliftment through music.
The project began with a call for a theory teacher to work at Leeuwkop Medium C
correctional facility for men on a voluntary basis, training students in
theory. Smith’s involvement at the prison led to his observation of the
rehabilitative and restorative effects of music on people in prison.
“There is no right or wrong in music, so there is no
judgment. There is only encouragement, and from there an increase in
self-esteem and confidence to pursue not only music, but perhaps other areas in
one’s life,” he says.
Smith, a trained musician, went on to register Poetso Music
Project as a non-profit organisation in 2013. Apart from continuing to train
prisoners in music theory, Poetso assisted some prisoners in starting a band at
Westville Prison in Durban.
Funding from the National Arts Council (NAC) in 2015 has assisted in all spheres of the
project’s activities, from the educational element of formal music theory
examinations and music production training to songwriting workshops and even a
recording of the band’s performance for the Department of Correctional Services
and family members of the prisoners.
Funding also enabled Poetso to purchase music composition
software, which was loaded on to the prison’s computers for the band to
continue creating music once the project had seen its completion. In addition, travel
expenses, tutor fees and other practical resources required to see the project
through were covered.
Poetso’s prison recording project is in the final mixing and
mastering phase, after which the recorded songs will be packaged and
distributed to the participants and their families. A backing CD will also be
produced so that the band can continue to perform their songs at events the
Department of Correctional Services holds throughout the year.
Commenting on the highlights from the recording project,
Smith says: “While we were [at Westville], we experienced the wardens opening
each morning with a prayer and a song. We asked the female wardens if they
would like to sing backing vocals on a couple of the gospel tracks, to which
they agreed. It was wonderful to see the collaboration between the juveniles
and those who oversee them … a breaking down of barriers to create something
special together.”
Another highlight, according to Smith, was witnessing the
transformation of one of the juveniles, who had initially wanted to drop out on
the second day. By the end, he had become the top participant in the group,
scoring the highest marks in his theory examination, writing lyrics for the
first time, and featuring first in the hip-hop track.
To illustrate the Poetso Music Project’s impact on
prisoners’ lives and its ethos of being a lasting, positive influence on
prisoners, Smith reflects on another highlight of the project: “One of our old
participants who had been released from prison a few years ago also joined us
in the project at Westville, and from his own experiences and success was able
to really offer a testimonial on the positive impact music can have on those
physically and mentally imprisoned.”
For more information, contact Trevor Smith on 078 350 6719
or email: trev.m.smith@gmail.com
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