Discover the true makings of SA's most beloved musical family, the Balas. Famed for their love of music, Pinky, Zwai, Loyiso, and Phelo have a strong yet often-tested bond. Mzansi Magic's The Bala Family premieres on Thursday 20 April, taking us behind the scenes as they try to bury their differences and rebuild their relationships.
Zwai's success has been influential in both the music industry as well as within his family, spurring his brothers Loyiso and Phelo to pursue their own successful music careers. While having simultaneously helped to revolutionise the genre of kwaito music through the legendary award-winning group TKZee and later his career as a solo artist and one of the country’s most recognised crossover producers and musical directors. This family's legacy in the music industry is undeniable!
Now, a couple of marriages, divorces and a new generation of Bala kids later, their extended family, including mom Veronica, hopes that this challenging journey that they are sharing with their fans will help connect their disjointed lives, rekindle their love for each other, and create a sense of belonging and safety.
“Our reality TV has proven to be a success and we expect The Bala Family to take centre stage as we bring viewers up close and personal and to know a side that they never knew about their favourite personalities. The Bala Family story is a powerful reminder of how families can come together to overcome obstacles and create something meaningful. Viewers will be taken on a journey of how this family seeks to build their own legacy in a way that will resonate with South Africans,” says Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
Adonisi adds: "Our goal at Mzansi Magic is to tell authentic stories that can resonate with and inspire our viewers, and The Bala Family is a perfect example of this."
In The Bala Family, viewers will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster, and will witness how this family overcomes a number of obstacles, including their individual religious and cultural beliefs, sexuality, and cultural views on family life.
Since the Bala family's love of music began, the Bala brothers – Loyiso, Zwai, and Phelo – have become household names. In this show, viewers will meet not only the rest of the clan that influences the family, but also a completely different view and understanding of who we thought the Bala family to be: Zwai, the patriarch and traditionalist; Loyiso, the peacekeeper, and a nice guy who is sometimes passive-aggressive; Phelo, the rebel and outlier; Pinky, the mother figure who wants everyone to get along; and family matriarch Veronica, who binds everything together.
Will they take the time to listen and hear each other and be prepared to make some compromises in order to break down the walls that divide?
Don’t miss the debut season of The Bala Family, every Thursday at 20:00 on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161), from 20 April.
Image Cred: ANMG