Lebohang Morake, widely known as Lebo M, the composer behind the iconic chant in The Lion King, has filed a lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi, seeking Sh3.5 billion ($27 million) over alleged defamation linked to the chant’s meaning.
Lebo M filed the suit on March 16, citing remarks Jonasi made during an appearance on the One54 Africa podcast, where he appeared to mock the film’s famous opening chant from both the 1994 and 2019 versions.
The chant, which begins with “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” was created and performed by Lebo M.
During the podcast, Jonasi claimed the phrase translates to “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god,” a remark that went viral as he also criticised the film’s portrayal of Africa.
According to legal documents obtained by People, Lebo M argues that Jonasi made “false statements of fact” about the meaning of the composition. The suit further alleges a breach of the Lanham Act, claiming Jonasi mocked the chant’s cultural significance through exaggerated imitation.
Lebo M maintains that the interpretation was presented as authoritative, misrepresenting the Zulu language and diminishing the cultural weight of the work. He argues the viral clip has harmed his professional reputation and future opportunities.
The complaint states that the misinterpretation distorted the chant’s meaning and trivialised decades of artistic effort, adding that the phrase actually means “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
Following the clip’s circulation, Morake reportedly contacted Jonasi on Instagram, expressing concern that the remarks were not comedic but instead attempted to “erase over 30 years of work.” Jonasi is said to have disputed that claim.
Morake is seeking a jury trial and $27 million in damages, with the final decision to rest with a jury if the case proceeds.