Lebo M, Producer of ‘The Lion King,’ Mourns the Loss of His Mother

Internationally acclaimed composer, performer, and Grammy Award-winning producer Lebohang Morake, better known as Lebo M, is grieving the loss of his beloved mother. Magogo Nomvula Grissel Morake, who was a pillar of strength, love, and wisdom within her family and community, passed away peacefully on Friday morning. The announcement was made by his management, as reported by Sunday World.

“Magogo Morake passed away peacefully this morning after a beautiful and restful night. A true matriarch, she was a pillar of love, wisdom, and strength within her family and community. Her legacy of kindness and resilience will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her,” the statement shared by the family reads.

The loss of this remarkable woman comes at a time when her son is riding high on the success of his latest international project, Mufasa: The Lion King, which recently grossed an astounding $700 million globally. Yet, despite this professional triumph, Lebo M is facing personal struggles, particularly in his love life.

According to Sunday Word, in 2024, Lebo M’s relationship with his estranged wife, Pretty Samuels, became highly publicized when accusations of infidelity and fraud surfaced. An acquaintance close to Morake, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that Lebo M had ended his marriage with Samuels after expecting a massive payout from the sale of his music catalog in the United States.

Samuels’ associates countered by claiming that Morake was attempting to prevent her from having any claim to the funds, given their marriage was in community of property — a dispute that Morake himself disputes. Samuels has also reportedly demanded R250,000 per month in spousal maintenance and an additional R2.5 million for legal costs as their divorce proceedings continue.

Through this difficult time, Lebo M and his family have expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received. They have, however, requested privacy as they continue to mourn the loss of their matriarch. Details regarding memorial arrangements will be shared in due course.