For over three many years, Lebo M has been the unmistakable voice behind The Lion King — from the hovering Zulu chant that opens “Circle of Life” to the emotionally wealthy scores which have helped outline considered one of Disney’s most iconic franchises. Now, the celebrated South African composer and producer is coming into a brand new chapter: his first-ever solo live performance, happening in South Africa this 12 months. “It’s my greatest dream,” Lebo instructed EBONY. “I’m doing my first live performance in South Africa—and in Africa—and in historical past.”
Born in apartheid-era South Africa, Lebo fled into exile at simply 16 years previous earlier than finally settling in Los Angeles, the place he labored his manner up from a studio assistant in South Central to a trusted collaborator of composer Hans Zimmer. Their partnership started with the 1992 movie The Energy of One and finally led to Lebo’s defining function on The Lion King.
“I wasn’t even that curious about going again to Hollywood on the time,” he mentioned. “South Africa was on the cusp of freedom. However the movie grew to become private — it mirrored my very own journey. Mufasa handing off to Simba was Mandela turning into president. That’s what impressed the lyrics.”
Since then, Lebo has remained central to each main iteration of The Lion King — from the unique animated movie and its Oscar-winning rating, to the Tony-winning Broadway musical, to world enviornment excursions with Zimmer, and most lately, Mufasa: The Lion King, which debuted final December. The most recent chapter introduced him into collaboration with director Barry Jenkins and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“Working with Lin was a dream I by no means thought would occur,” he mentioned. “It felt like a full-circle second—30 years into this journey, and I’m nonetheless discovering new methods to inform the story.”
Whereas his identify is carefully tied to The Lion King, Lebo has additionally contributed to different main movie tasks together with Atlantis: The Misplaced Empire, The Lady King, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He’s additionally the manager producer of the Oscar-nominated South African movie Final Ranger. However it’s the music of The Lion King that continues to spark a profound emotional reference to audiences around the globe—one thing Lebo says he solely actually understood as soon as he started performing reside.
“After I began doing the sector excursions with Hans, I entered shock,” he mentioned. “I didn’t notice how a lot impression the music had till I noticed folks around the globe reacting to it in real-time—singing in Zulu. I used to be humbled.”
That very same emotional energy might be on the coronary heart of his upcoming live performance, which he’s spent greater than a decade envisioning. That includes particular visitors Hans Zimmer, Mi Casa and Lebo’s daughter Refi, together with a tribute to Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala, the present will mix cinematic manufacturing with reside artistry on a scale not often seen on the continent.
“We’ve created a model that stands for high quality in African content material,” he mentioned. “Now, I need to present that we are able to produce a reside expertise that rivals something on the earth—with world-class tech, design and music.”
The live performance is symbolic in additional methods than one: it comes on the heels of Mufasa’s launch, the thirtieth anniversary of The Lion King, 30 years of South African democracy, and Lebo’s personal sixtieth birthday. “The celebrities have aligned,” he mentioned. “It was time.”
At the same time as he displays on the previous, Lebo is deeply impressed by the following technology of African expertise—from Tyla and Uncle Waffles to Black Espresso and Burna Boy. “Tyla represents the truth that we are able to have superstars from Africa on the extent of a Beyoncé,” he mentioned. “It’s greater than a sense — it’s progress.”
Nonetheless, he stays dedicated to evolving his personal voice and pushing artistic boundaries. “Although I’m an African artist, I’m additionally a part of the worldwide diaspora,” he mentioned. “My work is rooted in who I’m however impressed by the whole lot I’ve lived—from jazz and R&B to hip-hop in South Central.”
In a profession constructed on collaboration and cultural trade, Lebo M continues to deliver African storytelling to the world stage—now, on his personal phrases.
