South African actors John Kani and Kagiso Lediga play the same spiritual leader, Rafiki the mandrill, in the movie The Lion King.
First part Mufasa: The Lion King ” did well at the box office less than a month after its worldwide release, grossing over $352,865,115, thanks in part to the contributions of South Africans to the film's success. Raised.
This number may be different from the number for the previous movie “The Lion King” released in 2019 before the coronavirus outbreak, but Mufasa: The Lion King has maintained its top position even after the Christmas season, fending off stiff competition from around the world. sonic the hedgehog 3 More December releases.
The film earned $63.8 million in five days over the Christmas period in the United States, crushing its competitors at the box office.
This was also true internationally Mufasa's Christmas weekend brought in an additional $77.1 million, according to screen abuse.
According to reports, the film grossed an additional $10 million on New Year's Day alone. deadlineafter ranking number one at the box office for six consecutive days from Christmas to the new year.
Also read: 'Mufasa: The Lion King' soundtrack released with South African contribution [VIDEO]
South Africa's contribution
The film has historical ties to South Africa, with music producer Lebo M being part of the original composer group for the first Lion King film in 1994.
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 have been the only composer to return to Mufasa since 1994, and now Lin- I am teaming up with Manuel Miranda,” declared Cape Town's Lebo M.
The isiXhosa song in question is gomso That means tomorrow. This is the first song on the movie soundtrack.
The soundtrack was released on December 13th, just before the film's release.
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Rafiki for young and old
In addition to Lebo M's musical contribution, a proud moment for South Africans in the film comes in the form of John Kani and Kagiso Lediga's performance through voice-over work while playing the character of Rafiki.
Ironically, the two South Africans play the same mandrill, Rafiki, a spiritual guide. Kani does justice to the older Rafiki who narrates the story, while Lediga voices the much younger Rafiki.
Lediga, who is primarily a comedian, had the opportunity to show his comedic side in the film through Rafiki's sarcastic dialogue.
Throughout the film there are South African words used by young Rafiki.
In one scene, a young Mufasa encounters Rafiki with Scar and Sarabi. When Mufasa says they should trust the mandrill's instructions, Simba's mother Sarabi threatens to eat Rafiki.
“Hey, Ntombazane (girl)…a stick may smoke, but it will never burn,” Rafiki says, discouraging Sarabi and Scar from trying to eat him and trusting his lead. I persuaded him to do so.
Considering his actual advanced age, Khaani effortlessly plays the older, wiser Rafiki, telling the story of Mufasa to Simba's child Kiara, voiced by Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter Blue Ivy Carter.
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