Eko Hotels has brought its acclaimed Prideland stage saga to a close with Prideland 3: The Return of King Bala, the final instalment of the three-part musical that explores power, family, betrayal and the price of leadership.
The production follows Princess Zara, heir to the Prideland throne, as she struggles between royal duty and personal freedom before unwittingly setting in motion events that plunge the kingdom into fresh turmoil. After freeing her imprisoned uncle, Balfa, Zara watches him seize the throne, imprison Queen Farrah and throw the kingdom into chaos.
As the story unfolds, Zara joins forces with the kingdom’s general to rescue her mother and reclaim the throne. The conflict ends with Balfa and his son killing each other, ending their bloodline before Zara is crowned Queen of Prideland, ushering in a new chapter for the kingdom.
Combining music, dance, elaborate costumes and African folklore, the production explores themes of leadership, loyalty, sacrifice and the enduring strength of family bonds.
Speaking after the performance, the production’s creative director, Ice Nweke, said the story was conceived as a three-part musical from its early development.
“Prideland is a musical that was split into three parts. And for me, it’s the first time ever a musical has three parts, that you probably would call part one, part two, and part three,” he said.
Nweke explained that the first production introduced the royal family’s origins and Balfa’s violent takeover of the kingdom, while Prideland 2 centred on Queen Fara’s reign and the conspiracy against her rule.
He said the final instalment follows Zara’s transformation into a leader as she restores peace to the kingdom.
“So the show ended, or the musical ended, with Zara being crowned the queen of Prideland. So there’s a new legacy, there’s a new hope, and there’s a new blood on the throne,” he said.
Nweke said the trilogy was ultimately built around the themes of love, sacrifice and family.
“Prideland 1, 2, and 3 talks about the family bonds, about how powerful love conquers all things,” he said.
He added: “The love that the mother had for the daughter, the love that the mother had for the kingdom, in sacrificing everything that she has to preserve the kingdom, was basically what we’re trying to speak to. That without sacrifice, you can actually gain an ultimate victory. And the family bond of love is the most greatest power in any family.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
