Grammy-winning South African composer Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, is suing Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi for allegedly misrepresenting the meaning of the opening chant from Disney's The Lion King. Morake claims Jonasi intentionally mistranslated the Zulu and Xhosa lyrics in his standup routines and on a podcast, damaging his reputation and causing financial losses.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, seeks over $20 million in damages. It alleges Jonasi mocked the cultural significance of the chant, which launches the 1994 film and its 2019 remake. Disney's official translation of the opening line is: 'All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.'
Jonasi, known as Learnmore Jonasi, told a podcast the lyrics translated to 'Look, there's a lion. Oh my god,' prompting laughter. Morake's lawyers argue this was a deliberate misrepresentation, as 'ingonyama' is used as a royal metaphor. The complaint says Jonasi presented his translation as fact, not parody, and thus should not be protected under free speech.
Jonasi has defended his comments, saying he is a fan of Morake's work and wanted to collaborate on an educational video. However, he said Morake called him 'self-hating' in private messages, leading him to change his mind. The comedian continues his US tour and has posted videos addressing the controversy.
Disney has not commented on the lawsuit. Morake's legal team claims Jonasi's statements have interfered with his business relationships with Disney and his royalty income, causing actual damages exceeding $20 million, plus $7 million in punitive damages.
