Excerpt: Futuristic musical ‘The Jewel’ returns to packed audiences as Eko Hotels doubles down on world class theatre productions.
The future returned to the stage at Eko Hotels & Suites as The Jewel once again dazzled audiences with its ambitious blend of tradition, technology and musical storytelling.
Following its acclaimed debut in 2024, the futuristic stage production returned for performances on Saturday and Sunday at the Eko Convention Centre, drawing theatre lovers into a world set a century ahead of present day Nigeria.
Inspired by Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and the Jewel and Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, The Jewel reimagines familiar narratives through a futuristic African lens, creating a story that feels both recognisable and entirely new.
At the centre of the production is Sidi, a brilliant young woman determined to build a successful career before considering marriage. Her resolve is tested when powerful men, including a king and a military general, compete for her affection, threatening conflict in pursuit of her hand.
But unlike the women in many traditional narratives, Sidi refuses to become a prize to be won.
Instead, she chooses love on her own terms, rejecting power and status in favour of genuine connection.
The production transports audiences into a vision of Nigeria in the 2100s, where ancient traditions coexist with futuristic technology. Voodoo priestesses interact with glowing digital interfaces, metallic costumes replace traditional garments, and ancestral reverence exists comfortably alongside imagined technological advancement.
For nearly two hours, audiences moved between laughter, suspense and moments of complete silence as music, choreography and striking visual effects combined to create an immersive theatrical experience.
Speaking after the performance, Creative Director Ice Nweke said the production was deliberately designed to challenge conventional theatre and imagine what Nigeria could look like a century from now.
“We wanted to tell a story that is not your typical story,” he said.
“What would Nigeria look like 100 years from now? Would cars be flying in the air? What would the dress sense look like? We used that to build up a story called The Jewel.”
According to Nweke, one of the greatest challenges was creating a believable future while remaining rooted in African identity and culture.
“It is very difficult to know what the style of music will be 100 years from now,” he said.
“So we had to start merging old school into new school, bringing old forms and elevating them to create this sense of exploration that goes beyond what we normally have.”
He added that the production team spent months assembling and training performers capable of delivering the demanding vision behind the play.
“You can’t tell this story with normal actors,” he said.
“So we searched and found some actors that are not normal, brought them together for about six months, and then we had the play.”
Nweke said the objective was not only to entertain audiences but also to demonstrate that Nigerian theatre can compete with some of the world’s biggest stages.
“What you might find in London West End, what you might find on Broadway, we’ll give you the very best,” he said.
“Because Nigeria has so much talent.”
Beyond the production itself, he said the theatre initiative is also aimed at nurturing future generations of performers.
“For those who believe they are actors or dancers or singers, or your child can act or sing, bring them to us. We want to raise the next generation of actors and singers because the world needs them.”
As the curtains closed and applause filled the hall, Nweke reminded audiences that the journey was far from over.
“We are continuing the game, and the show does not stop today,” he told the audience, announcing upcoming performances throughout July.
The theatre season continues with Mary on July 11 and 12, followed by Prideland 2 on July 18 and Prideland 3on July 19.
If the reception to The Jewel is any indication, Nigerian theatre audiences are ready for more.
And judging by what unfolded on the Eko Convention Centre stage this weekend, the future of Nigerian theatre may already be here.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
