It’s finally here. Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King hits theatres today, and to celebrate, we are taking a look at one of the pinnacle aspects of what makes this continued journey such a prevalent story in the hearts of many: the music. Just as you will see in the featurette below, where Lin-Manuel Miranda makes a similar reference, for most of us, when you think of The Lion King, the first thing that springs to mind is that iconic opening sound of Lebo M. Let me refresh your memory:
“Nants ingonyama bagithi baba,” you can’t tell me that the moment you hear that, something isn’t stirred within you. This opening scene stuck with me for years as a child, and as an adult, I feel like I melt into my former self at the mere mention of it. It’s a pretty special part of Disney’s history and a voice that will continue to be a cornerstone of the musical magic in the new movie as well. Take a look behind the involvement of Lebo M in the new movie and enjoy a preview of the music to come from Disney’s latest installment of The Lion King.
Exploring the unlikely rise of the beloved king of the Pride Lands, Mufasa: The Lion King enlists Rafiki to relay the legend of Mufasa to young lion cub Kiara, daughter of Simba and Nala, with Timon and Pumbaa lending their signature schtick. Told in flashbacks, the story introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny—their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a threatening and deadly foe.
I want to leave you with something that I thought was pretty special. It’s a recording from a few years ago of a spontaneous performance by The Lion King and Aladdin Musical casts in an airport that demonstrates just how impactful the music from these films has grown to be, even all these years later. Enjoy!
If you are off to see Mufasa: The Lion King this weekend, do let us know how you like it!
