Lebohang Morake does not recall discussing Nelson Mandela with the Duchess of Sussex at the “Lion King” musical premiere.
Morake – professionally known as Lebo M – spoke to the Duke of Sussex and his wife at the red carpet event in London in 2019, but insists he has no recollection of mentioning the late leader after Markle claimed a South African cast member told her: “When you married into this (royal) family, we rejoiced in the streets the same way we did when Mandela was released from prison.”
Morake, who wrote the music for the stage production, told MailOnline, “I met the royals during the 2019 premiere of ‘The Lion King.’ I cannot comment on the topic since it occurred three years ago and I do not recall the contents of that brief chat, which lasted less than a minute, other than the fact that the royals were traveling to South Africa or Botswana.
“I am the only South African personally connected with both the movie and Broadway versions of ‘The Lion King’.”
Online video footage of Morake’s encounter with the pair shows him telling the woman, “It’s an honor to meet you. “Everyone in South Africa has heard of Meghan Markle,” Prince Harry said before to discussing their upcoming trip to South Africa.
The duchess of Sussex made the remark in an interview with The Cut magazine, stating: “He looked at me, and he’s like light. When you married into this family, we celebrated in the streets exactly as we did when Mandela was released from jail, he said.”
Mandela’s grandson, Zwelivelile ‘Mandla’ Mandela, later emphasized that the royal wedding could never be compared to Madiba’s courageous journey, telling MailOnline, “It can never be likened to a wedding celebration. Madiba’s celebration was based on South Africa’s victory over 350 years of colonialism and 60 years of a harsh apartheid system. Therefore, it cannot be compared to It.”
Mandela died in 2013 aged 95.