SA Grammy Winner Lebo M Files US$20M Lawsuit Against Zim Comedian Learnmore Jonasi Over Lion King Chant
South African Grammy-winning composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake has filed a US$20 million (approximately R370 million) lawsuit in a United States federal court against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka Jonasi after a viral joke about the opening chant from The Lion King triggered a dispute over culture and translation.
The legal action follows a widely shared social media clip in which Jonasi joked about the meaning of the chant “Nants’ Ingonyama”, the famous opening vocal heard at the beginning of the Disney film’s iconic song Circle of Life. The moment quickly spread across the internet and sparked debate among fans of the film.
According to 263Chat, the Grammy-winning musician has now taken the matter to court, accusing the comedian of misrepresentation, defamation and cultural misappropriation linked to the chant.
“Grammy-winning composer Lebo M has filed a US$20 million lawsuit in a U.S. federal court against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, alleging misrepresentation, defamation and cultural misappropriation tied to the iconic chant ‘Nants’ Ingonyama’.”
The publication added that the composer believes the chant has been misused and commercially exploited without authorisation, prompting the high-value lawsuit.
Viral Lion King Joke Sparks Controversy
The dispute reportedly began after Jonasi discussed the opening line of The Lion King during a video interview shared on social media.
In the clip, the comedian jokingly claimed that the chant simply meant:
“Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God.”
The comment amused many viewers online and quickly went viral.
However, the interpretation drew criticism from Lebo M, who helped bring the chant to global audiences through Disney’s The Lion King productions.
The composer publicly disputed the translation and stressed that the chant carries cultural and historical significance rooted in African traditions.
Lebo M Defends Cultural Meaning Of The Chant
In a statement issued through his publicity manager, Simphiwe Majola, on 4 March 2026, Lebo M emphasised that “Nants’ Ingonyama” is not simply a lyric from a movie soundtrack but a traditional form of royal praise poetry.
“It is not an internet remix. It is Praise Imbongi – royal praise poetry carried in metaphor, lineage and living memory.”
He explained that the chant draws from long-standing praise traditions within Southern African cultures.
“Rooted in the praise traditions of the Zulu and Xhosa people and introduced to global audiences through The Lion King, the chant translates to ‘Here comes a lion’, a proclamation of arrival, honour and sovereignty. It is praise, not parody. It is heritage and not hashtag.”
Lebo M further said removing the chant from its cultural framework risks stripping it of its deeper meaning.
“To reinterpret it outside its cultural framework is to detach it from the very tradition that gives it meaning. Its translation is documented. Its origins are lived. Its significance is inherited, not invented.”
The composer added that he originally recorded the chant as a Praise Imbongi, describing it as a declaration tied to kingship and ancestral authority within African cultural tradition.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Jonasi later responded in a video defending his position and explaining that he had been willing to learn from the situation.
The disagreement has since escalated into a legal battle reportedly valued at US$20 million (approximately R370 million), bringing global attention to the meaning and heritage of one of Africa’s most recognisable musical chants.
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The post Lion King Composer Lebo M Files US$20M Lawsuit Against Zim Comedian Learnmore Jonasi Over “Nants’ Ingonyama” appeared first on iHarare News.
