Lebo M Sues Comedian for $20M Over Lion King Chant

South African composer Lebohang Morake, known professionally as Lebo M, filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on March 17, 2026. The action accuses Jonasi of misrepresenting the cultural significance of the iconic "Nants Ingonyama" chant from Disney's The Lion King, claiming it caused harm to Lebo M's reputation and led to unauthorized commercial exploitation.

The dispute originated from Jonasi's appearance on the One54 Africa podcast on February 25, 2026, where he discussed the Zulu and Xhosa chant that opens the film's "Circle of Life" song. During the conversation with Nigerian-American comedian Godfrey, Jonasi suggested the phrase "Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba" translates simply to "Look, there's a lion. Oh my God," presenting it in a humorous context with exaggerated imitations. Lebo M, who co-composed and performed the chant alongside Elton John and Hans Zimmer for both the 1994 animated film and its 2019 live-action remake, contends this portrayal trivializes a sacred Royal Praise Chant, or imbongi, rooted in African traditions of spirituality,...