Presentation of the project La Statale al Bekka and of the music video Una canzone mille sentimenti, performed by Alex Simbana (stage name El Simba), actor and rapper of the Puntozero company.
The song is part of the album Una speranza mille sentimenti, produced by Puntozero and available on all major online music platforms.
The video, co-produced by the University of Milan (La Statale) and Puntozero, marks an important moment in the now decade-long collaboration between the University of Milan and the Puntozero theatre company. It was filmed inside the section of the Juvenile Detention Centre (IPM) where Alex spent many years. Alex first approached rap music through the project La Statale al BeKKa and, in particular, through his encounter with the British rapper Kingslee James McLean Daley, known as Akala. Founder and Artistic Director of the Hip Hop Shakespeare Company, Akala led a workshop with us involving a mixed group of university students and young detainees, an experience that deeply inspired Alex and his music.
Alex’s story — that of an artist who struggled to find his own path and who now nurtures the dream of continuing to write lyrics and live through music — serves as a positive example for many young people facing difficulties. At the same time, the release of the music video and the presentation of the project aim to refocus attention on the crucial role that art and theatre can and should play within juvenile detention institutions, through collaboration between La Statale, Puntozero, the “Cesare Beccaria” Juvenile Detention Centre, the Juvenile Court, and the Juvenile Chamber of Milan.
“Una speranza mille sentimenti” di El Simba
Francesco Castagnino (regista)
Giacomo Colussi (DOP)
Ivana Candela (sylist)
Giovanni Negro (operatore MDP)
Enea Scutellà (elettrico)
"What strikes me most in this song and video is the narration of transformation that Alex decides to offer of his experience in prison. While the lyrics offer an unflinching glimpse into the harsh realities of daily life in prison, they are also infused with quiet resilience and hope. By addressing his fellow inmates as fratelli (brothers), Alex honours the deep bonds forged through shared adversity and a collective yearning for freedom in an environment where community is rare, if not impossible. Through his music, he tells his own story and extends strength and solidarity to others walking similar paths. His words recount a long journey of self-discovery and emotional growth that has enabled him to reinterpret his past, foster a sense of brotherhood within and beyond prison walls, and envision a brighter future. Can we credit Shakespeare for this?” (Cristina Cavecchi)
