A rare blend of music, empathy and social advocacy recently took centre stage at the Medium Custodial Centre, Kirikiri, Lagos, as some of Nigeria’s leading entertainers brought live performances behind prison walls. The event, tagged the SALT Concert, offered inmates a refreshing break from the routines of confinement and reinforced the growing role of creative expression in rehabilitation efforts.
The concert featured performances by popular artistes including Skales, Korede Bello, Teni the Entertainer and veteran disc jockey DJ Jimmy Jatt. Beyond entertainment, the gathering served as a powerful reminder of the shared humanity between inmates and the wider society, creating moments of joy, connection and emotional release within the custodial environment.
The initiative was organised through a partnership between music and prison reform advocate Lamboginny and the Centre for Legal Support and Inmate Rehabilitation (CELSIR). Together, they designed the event as part of a broader effort to promote rehabilitation, dignity and personal transformation among justice-impacted individuals.
Speaking on the purpose behind the concert, CELSIR’s Executive Director, Joke Aladesanmi, explained that the collaboration aligns closely with the organisation’s mission to look beyond punishment and focus on restoration. According to her, meaningful rehabilitation requires interventions that address emotional well-being and self-worth, not just physical confinement.
“We remain committed to expanding innovative interventions across correctional facilities in Nigeria,” Aladesanmi said. “Our goal is to ensure that rehabilitation goes beyond confinement and truly focuses on restoration, hope and transformation for inmates.”
Lamboginny, who has long championed the use of music as a tool for social change, also underscored the deeper significance of the initiative. He described music as a bridge that can foster healing, inclusion and dialogue, even in environments often defined by isolation and stigma.
“This concert demonstrates how strategic collaborations between civil society organisations and leaders in the creative industry can support correctional reform efforts,” he said. “When music enters these spaces, it helps remind inmates that they are seen, valued and capable of positive change.”
Representing the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), the Controller of Corrections, Lagos State Command, Daramola George, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to programmes that prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration. He noted that initiatives like the SALT Concert complement the NCS’s broader objectives by supporting inmates’ mental and emotional health.
In addition to the headline acts, the concert also featured performances by Seyi Sodimu and DJ Kaywise, further energising the atmosphere. For many inmates, the event stood out as an unforgettable experience—one that temporarily dissolved barriers and reinforced the idea that creativity and compassion can play a meaningful role in correctional reform.
As conversations around prison reform continue to gain momentum in Nigeria, the SALT Concert has emerged as a compelling example of how music and the arts can contribute to rehabilitation, offering inmates not just entertainment, but renewed hope and a sense of belonging.