Lamboginny in forgiveness, healing session with inmates of Montgomery County Correctional Facility,

Maryland Department of Juvenile Services was honored to have Nigerian prison reform musician and motivational speaker, Yinka Lawanson popularly known as Lamboginny visit the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center and the Alfred D. Noyes Children’s Center.

The singer, who is the brain behind SALT initiative, an acronym for ‘Saving All Lives Together’ and title for his album, also visited the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, where he performed and spoke to the inmates.

During the visit to Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, which caters for youth between the ages of 12-18, and Alfred D. Noyes Children’s Center, the inmates enjoyed a performance and an engaging discussion about values and future plans.

Lambo, as he is also called, is an afro-dancehall musician and global prison ambassador from Lagos, who mixes inspirational and uplifting lyrics with catchy afrobeat rhythms. He draws inspiration from artistes like the late Bob Marley and Fela Kuti.

He uses his music as a platform for prison reform around the world. Last year, he performed at the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference. His goal is to positively impact those in prison, and to secure freedom for the wrongfully convicted.

Speaking about his passion for prison inmates and prison reforms through his music, the singer said, “I started organising concerts in prisons and so many Nigerian celebrities were following me to the prison. You know, I go and be into it, because I love the fact that I was putting smiles on faces of the helpless inmates.”

“At some point I started fighting for some inmates that do not have to be in prison. I started fighting for them to get freedom, and started getting freedom for them,” he added.

His nonprofit SALT raises money to bring music therapy programs to youth prisons. The organisation also pays the fines of young people held in prison for minor offenses like street begging, as well as the legal fees of young people who may have been wrongly convicted.