Truth is stranger than fiction

The $27 Million "Lion King" Lawsuit That Blew Our Minds

Lebo M. is suing comedian Learnmore Jonasi for $27 million, claiming the comedian's viral "Look, there's a lion" joke defames his cultural legacy and misrepresents the Zulu opening of The Lion King.

Jfeed Staff

MAR 22, 2026 13:59

2 min read

The Grammy-winning South African composer Lebo M has officially filed a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi (also known as Learnmore Mwanyenyeka) for a staggering $27 million.

The Conflict: A Joke vs. A Legacy

The dispute centers on a viral clip from the One54 Africa podcast where Jonasi joked that the legendary Zulu opening of "The Circle of Life" - Nants' Ingonyama bagithi Baba - simply translates to:

"Look, there's a lion. Oh my god."

While the internet found it hilarious, Lebo M did not. His legal team argues that this is a "fabricated, trivializing distortion" of a sacred Royal Praise Chant.

According to Lebo M, the lyrics are rooted in Zulu and Xhosa praise poetry and actually mean:

"All hail the king / We all bow in the presence of the king."

Why the $27 Million?

The lawsuit claims several high-stakes violations:

Defamation and Trade Libel: Alleging that Jonasi presented the "joke" as authoritative fact, damaging Lebo M's professional reputation.
Business Interference: Lebo M claims the viral misinformation could jeopardize his 30-year relationship with Disney.

Cultural Misappropriation: The suit argues that the joke mocks African cultural heritage and narrative ownership.

Really, this is all a bit much. It was a funny joke at most.

That being said, nothing and no one in the world can ever take away from the Lion King's legendary status among all movies, from the beginning of time.

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