While announcing his first live show in South Africa, Lebo M lamented the lack of government support for the creative industries.
In announcing his first live show in Cape Town, South Africa, Lebo M said now was the perfect time to make the announcement as 2024 is an important year in his life.
“You know there are years when everything comes together and everything comes full circle,” Lebo M. said.
This year, his mother turns 100 and he turns 60. lion king celebrated its 30th anniversary and concluded a 10-year world tour with German composer Hans Zimmer.
“When everything comes full circle, it's the best time to go home,” Lebo M. said.
The producer, whose real name is Lebohang Morake, has announced that he will be playing his first live show at the swanky Mount Nelson Hotel, featuring the 45-piece Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. The 25-piece Soweto Spiritual Choir. and Ndlovu Youth Choir.
Also read: Gauteng school students re-enact 'The Lion King' as production reaches milestone year
There's nothing to celebrate about democracy
similar to lion kingSouth Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy this year, but when Lebo mentions the important events in and around his life, he doesn't consider them noteworthy.
“I'm very conscious of 30 years of a new dispensation. I'm often very hesitant to say democracy and things like that,” Lebo says. The Citizen It has an American atmosphere.
He did not mention South Africa's democracy, as the arts and entertainment industry remains the worst-off in Mzansi.
“I think it's the most disrespected thing in the last 30 years.” [industry]. Artists have proven time and time again that without resources, government support, or business, it's not just about the government. I don’t think there’s much to celebrate yet,” he declared.
He said the country is not globally competitive to celebrate anything in the arts and entertainment industry, given that there are less than 20 global artists working at the highest level. .
“The country as a whole, and the government in particular, has not made much of a contribution in terms of raising the bar in terms of quality investment and creating greater numbers for individuals,” Lebo said.
He cites himself, Trevor Noah, and Black Coffee as individuals who compete at the highest level globally.
“We're talking about individuals who have to fend for themselves with little support, even after we've proven our success globally and made other people millionaires around the world. .”
He said he is not shy about focusing on government and business because these two factors are at work everywhere else except South Africa.
“Very few people in the world, other than Americans or Europeans, have achieved global success as individuals. [efforts]. These come from programs, some type of funding, or systems that countries are passionate about. Our country is not on this side. In fact, we are so accustomed to a mediocre perception of success. ”
“There is nothing to celebrate about the huge contribution my government has made to the creative industry as a whole.”
Also read: Gregory Makoma celebrates 25 years of Buyani Dance Theater by bringing dance to the people
Composed by Mufasa
Revo M Live – “The Voice and Soul of the Lion King” will be performed at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town from Friday 11 April to Sunday 13 April 2025.
The concert was announced at a media event in Cape Town on Friday, November 29, to commemorate the album's 30th anniversary. lion king For the first partMufasa' will be released worldwide just before Christmas.
“mufasa That’s the biggest deal for me,” Lebo said. Lebo is the remaining original composer for the original Lynx King film and will be involved in the upcoming Mufasa film.
Elton John, Time Rice and Zimmer are the other three who created the original music for the 30-year-old film.
“For the first time, the world will hear the new beginning of a film that I wrote in Xhosa and that I wrote alone. I am the only one who has been back since 1994. mufasa “Now I’m teaming up with Lin-Manuel Miranda as a composer,” he said.
At Friday's media launch, Lebo M shared the stage with Ndlovu Youth Choir. Lebo said he wanted to work with the choir as a means of fulfilling his childhood dream of working on “Sarafina”.
“I love these young guys. They keep me young,” he said.
Ndlovu Youth Choir founder and conductor Ralph Schmidt spoke to this publication about the collaboration with Lebo. The choir collaborated with Lebo for the first time at the recent Earthshot Awards.
“I think there was a great rapport between the choir and Levo,” Schmidt told The Citizen.
“Lebo’s influence extends beyond the South African music industry, and the impact he has had on South Africans around the world…No South African in the creative arts has created more meaningful employment for South African artists than Lebo M. I don’t think so.”
Read now: 'I'm very grateful to Minister Gayton McKenzie': Makazi
