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Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi faces a lawsuit for $27 million after making a joke about the lyrics to the opening song of the Disney film “The Lion King.”
While appearing on the One54 Africa podcast last month, Jonasi jokingly claimed that “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” the opening African chant to the song “Circle of Life,” translates to “Look! There’s a lion! Oh my god!”
South African composer Lebohang Morake, otherwise known as Lebo M, the vocalist behind the opening chant, accused the comedian in a legal document on March 16 of making “false statements of fact about the meaning of the ‘Nants’ingonyama’ composition” which he insists translates to “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”
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Composer Lebo M served a lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi over the latter’s claims about the translation of the opening song in Disney’s “The Lion King.” (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
He claimed Jonasi was diminishing the song’s value, which could have a negative impact on Morake’s reputation and estate, and is seeking more than $27 million in damages.
In an Instagram video on March 13, Jonasi acknowledged speaking to Morake about the joke, which reportedly led to a harsh confrontation.
“When this man first approached me, he approached me with the attitude of saying that I am disrespecting his work, right?” Jonasi said. “And I was like, ‘No, actually, I am a big fan of yours. I actually love the song.’ And therefore, this was just a joke, and comedy has always had a way of starting a conversation. I told him this. This is now your chance to educate people because now people are listening.”
Jonasi claimed that Morake referred to him as a “self-hating” Black man and “idiot” for telling the joke.
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Learnmore Jonasi accused Lebo M. of calling him “self-hating” and an “idiot.” (Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images for Disney)
“I realize I’m not actually having a conversation with someone who wants to do that. This person is literally not attacking the joke but my character,” Jonasi said.
Jonasi revealed that he was later served with the lawsuit days later during one of his comedy shows at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles.
“I now have a gluten allergy, anxiety. I got served. I am now American,” Jonasi joked in a video of the performance.
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Digital reached out to representatives for Jonasi and Morake for comment.
In an interview with the New York Post on Friday, Jonasi, who has launched a GoFundMe page for legal support, denied the allegations in the lawsuit, arguing that the joke has built up more interest in the film and song.
Lebo M has said that the opening chant for “Circle of Life” translates to “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” (Oupa Bopape/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
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“I’ve actually gotten a lot of messages saying, ‘Hey that joke actually made me wanna go back and watch the movie again.’ It has revived people’s interest in the song. It actually made it more relevant,” Jonasi said.
