Lebo M takes legal action over misrepresentation of The Lion King chant

Grammy-winning South African composer Lebohang Morake, popularly known as Lebo M, has filed a lawsuit in the United States seeking between $20 million and $27 million in damages against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, also known as Learnmore Mwanyenyeka. The case stems from comments Jonasi made on a February podcast, where he joked that the famous chant ‘Nants’ Ingonyama’ from Disney’s The Lion King simply means ‘Look, there’s a lion…Oh my God.’ Lebo M’s legal team argues that such statements have devalued the chant’s deep cultural, linguistic, and historical meaning, calling it a harm to his artistic integrity and public reputation.

The lawsuit includes claims of defamation, trade libel, and misrepresentation, asserting that the chant is not just a catchy sound but an expression rooted in Zulu and Xhosa praise poetry. Lebo M, who worked with Hans Zimmer on the original soundtrack, is renowned for introducing authentic African vocal traditions to global audiences through his iconic performance in The Lion King.

Public reaction to the lawsuit has been divided. Some see it as an overreaction that risks limiting creative humour, while others praise the composer for standing firm in protecting African cultural heritage and artistic respect. The case—although no trial date has been announced—has sparked broader conversations about how traditional African art is interpreted, mocked, or commercialised in global media spaces, raising questions on intellectual property and digital influence in cultural storytelling.