Comedian Hit With $27 Million Lawsuit After Making Fun of ‘The Lion King’
The legal battle between The Lion King composer Lebo M and Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi is intensifying as the two men clash over cultural heritage and the boundaries of satire.
Lebohang Morake, known globally by his stage name Lebo M, officially filed a $27 million lawsuit against Jonasi in federal court in Los Angeles earlier this month. The Grammy-winning South African producer alleges that the comedian has devalued his iconic opening chant in “Circle of Life” by spreading intentional mistranslations during recent stand-up sets and podcast appearances.
The dispute centers on the Zulu and Xhosa lyrics that have introduced the Disney classic to audiences for over three decades. According to the complaint, Jonasi claimed during a February episode of the One54 podcast that the lyrics simply translate to, “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.”
Morake’s legal team argues that this interpretation is a harmful distortion of a “sacred royal praise chant” intended to reflect South African identity and spirituality. Disney’s official translation of the opening phrase, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” is “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
Morake further clarified that the following line, “Hay! baba, sizongqoba,” translates to “Through you we will emerge victoriously.” While his lawyers acknowledged that the word “ingonyama” can literally mean “lion,” they maintain it was utilized as a royal metaphor for kingship that should not be treated as a punchline.
Jonasi has remained defiant in the face of the legal action, taking to social media to share his perspective with his 500,000 followers. The comedian, who was recently served with legal papers while performing on stage, maintains that his comments were clearly intended as comedy.
“I can’t believe I’m getting sued for telling a joke. What kind of stupid world do we live in?” he told fans in a viral video, where he also launched a GoFundMe to help cover his mounting legal expenses. The lawsuit specifically argues that Jonasi should not be protected by First Amendment rights because he allegedly presented his translation “as authoritative fact, not comedy.”
Morake is seeking $20 million in actual damages for the alleged interference with his business relationships and an additional $7 million in punitive damages. The composer previously expressed his disappointment on Instagram, stating that the chant is a powerful expression of African heritage that should be respected rather than ridiculed.
As the legal proceedings move forward in Los Angeles, both figures continue to balance their busy professional schedules. Lebo M is set to release a new studio album later this year, which he describes as a career-defining project that blends traditional African sounds with contemporary production.
Learnmore Jonasi is also in the midst of a significant career surge, having recently performed to a standing ovation at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood. He is currently on his U.S. comedy tour, with upcoming dates scheduled across major cities.
Aside from his stand-up, Jonasi has been a vocal critic of how African identity is often simplified in Western media, a theme he frequently explores in his routines and on his popular social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the broader Lion King franchise remains a central fixture of the entertainment landscape. Disney recently announced that Posi Morakinyo and Asha Parker-Wallace will take over the lead roles of Simba and Nala in the London West End production starting in May.
This new casting arrives as fans eagerly await further news on the expansion of the cinematic universe, following the record-breaking success of the previous live-action adaptations and stage shows.
Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.