‘Lion King’ Mockery Could Cost Comedian $27 Million
The dispute between The Lion King composer Lebo M and comedian Learnmore Jonasi is turning into a big legal battle. Lebo M, whose real name is Lebohang Morake, filed a $27 million lawsuit in Los Angeles earlier this month.
The Grammy-winning composer says Jonasi has made fun of his famous opening chant from Circle of Life and misrepresented its meaning on stage and in podcasts. The controversy is about the Zulu and Xhosa lyrics that have been part of the movie for more than 30 years.
On a February episode of the One54 podcast, Jonasi joked that the line “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” simply translates to “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.” Lebo M’s lawyers argue that this is not just wrong but disrespectful. They say the chant is a sacred song meant to honor South African culture and kingship.
Disney’s official translation is “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king,” and the next line, “Hay! baba, sizongqoba,” means “Through you we will emerge victoriously.” Lebo M notes that while the word “ingonyama” can mean lion, it is intended as a metaphor for royalty and should not be mocked.
Jonasi has responded on social media, where he has around 500,000 followers. After being served legal papers while performing live, he posted a video saying, “I can’t believe I’m getting sued for telling a joke. What kind of stupid world do we live in?” He also started a GoFundMe to cover legal costs.
The lawsuit claims Jonasi presented his translation as fact rather than comedy, which is why he might not be protected under the First Amendment. The lawsuit seeks $20 million in damages for harm to Lebo M’s business and $7 million in punitive damages.
Lebo M also posted on Instagram about his disappointment, emphasizing that the chant represents African heritage and deserves respect. Both men continue working on their careers. Lebo M is planning a new album this year, blending traditional African music with modern production.
Jonasi is on a U.S. comedy tour, performing to sold-out audiences, and often talks about how African culture is oversimplified in Western media. The Lion King franchise itself is still very active.
Disney announced that Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace will play Simba and Nala in the London West End starting in May. Fans are also waiting to hear more about future movies and stage productions after the success of the live-action adaptations.
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