Comedian Learnmore Jonasi is facing legal action after allegedly mistranslating the famous opening Zulu lyrics from Disney’s The Lion King during a comedy bit.
According to NBC News, Grammy-winning South African composer Lebohang Morake filed a federal civil complaint in California on March 16. Morake claims that Jonasi’s translation of the chant is false and harmful to his life’s work.
The dispute centers on the well-known chant, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” featured in the film’s opening sequence and often recognized worldwide for the song “Circle of Life.”
Comedy Bit Sparks Legal Dispute
Jonasi, whose real name is Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, appeared on the One54 Africa podcast last month. During the episode, the host sang the chant and asked Jonasi what it meant.
Jonasi responded humorously, saying, “You said nothing,” before adding his own interpretation: “It means, ‘Look, there’s a lion. Oh my, God.”
Morake’s lawsuit argues that the translation misrepresents the cultural and historical significance of the chant. He stated that the phrase actually means, “All hail the king, we bow all in the presence of the king.”
The chant is described in the complaint as “royal praise poetry” rooted in isiZulu and isiXhosa traditions. Although widely known through Disney’s The Lion King, Morake asserts that it is a standalone African vocal proclamation with deep cultural importance.
The lawsuit reportedly characterizes Jonasi’s mistranslation as a “sick joke” and notes that the podcast appearance was not part of a formal stand-up performance.
Jonasi Responds and Launches GoFundMe
Following the lawsuit, Jonasi launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal expenses. By Friday afternoon, the campaign had raised approximately $16,000.
Jonasi addressed the situation in a video posted on March 13, stating that the joke had been part of his routine for several years.
“This was just a joke, and comedy always has a way of starting a conversation,” Jonasi said. “This is now your chance to actually educate people because now people are listening. I was even ready to create a video with him, to be honest.”
Morake reportedly contacted Jonasi directly, expressing that the joke was insulting to African culture.
Served With Lawsuit During Los Angeles Performance
The legal dispute escalated when Jonasi was reportedly served with the lawsuit while performing at a comedy show in Los Angeles.
