SNAPS | Lebo M celebrates 25 years of ‘Lion King’ on Broadway

The Lion King music composer and reality TV star Lebo M celebrated the 25th anniversary of the animation feature on Broadway.

Lebogang Morake is the first person to work 25 years on Broadway and the first black composer on that stage.

He composed songs for the The Lion King theatrical production that started in 1994. At 25 years, this marks South Africa having the longest working talent on Broadway.

On Instagram he shared snaps of his magical return to Broadway this month when he was honoured at the 25th anniversary of The Lion King animated feature.

“About last night, still so surreal to me. When work constantly feels like new work yet one has been blessed to live to see, feel and be humbled by the affect one’s work has had and now 25 years later history records us in various categories of firsts. with beautiful family my wife first Mrs M @pretty_samuels family friends well over 30 years now @crystalkungminkoff and @robminkoff my partner at Lebo and Primedia @primediaoutdoor and the Queen of talk @zintathu (Check her vibes at our soundcheck) and reuniting with the maestro @churchmuse. I am grateful and humbled. To the TLK family @thelionking here’s to another 25 years,” he wrote.

His followers congratulated the composer and producer on his milestones.

“History. Congratulations This is huge,” commented one.

“What an amazing night, when you think more than 110-million have seen The Lion King and witnessed your work is unbelievable. The music you wrote for this show is the soul of The Lion King. Congratulations Morake, here is to another 25 years,” another said. 

Anele Mdoda was part of the celebrations and shared some snaps.

“[I never] thought I would be MCing something on Broadway’s biggest stage. The Lion King is the highest grossing musical of all time, and today we celebrate 25 years of it on Broadway. 110-million souls that have come to see it and @thereallebo_m who voiced easily the most recognisable piece of music in cinematic history,” Anele wrote.

“The Lion King, the musical, was the first musical to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. What we in the business call EGOT status.”

Lebo also worked as a composer for the Hollywood film The Woman King.

“To be considered for a project as special as this one is exciting in many ways and a first for me. I haven't worked with a black film composer, which I'm excited about, and it's a film that's so timely with such amazing talent, especially from South Africa, produced by Viola Davis is so special to me,” he told TshisaLIVE.