There’s a long history of great music and art emerging from the confines of prison, from iconic blues musician Lead Belly, all the way through to the self-taught outsider art created by those who exist separately to the “established” art scenes.

Among such artists are the Zomba Prison Band, a group of mixed-gender prisoners in a maximum-security jail in Malawi who created 20 tracks in 2013 for their acclaimed album I Have No Everything Here. Comprised of 16 musicians – many of whom are serving life sentences for offences including assault, murder and theft – the band has been the subject of a mini-documentary directed by Marilena Delli.

And now, their album has been nominated for an award for best album in the world music category at this year’s Grammys, alongside big names like Gilberto Gil, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anoushka Shankar and Angelique Kidjo. They will be the first musicians from Malawi to be nominated for the award.

“I was shocked. Absolutely shocked,” said Ian Brennan, the album’s producer. “The other four nominated artists all have roots that go back decades, so to see this group of completely unknown people from what is really a lesser-known country get recognised is really humbling.”

However, according to The Guardian, the band may not even be aware that they have been nominated for the prestigious award, because all communication with them must go through the prison commissioner or local NGOs, and they have yet to release a statement or any kind of public recognition.

h/t The Guardian