‘The Lion King’ Chant Composer Sues Comedian For $27M Over Defamation On Film’s Song

The chant composer for Disney’s The Lion King franchise has sued a comedian for $27 million for allegedly defaming the chant’s meaning.

Lebohang Morake, also known as Leso M, filed the lawssuit against Learnmore Jonasi on March 16. Leso M decided to take legal action after the African comedian seemingly mocked the chant, famously heard during the 1994 and 2019 versions of the movie, during a podcast appearance.

One viral clip focused on Jonasi’s issue with the film and its depiction of Africa.

The phrase “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” opens the film, and was created and performed by Leso M. However, while on the One54 Africa podcast, Jonasi claimed that the phrase means “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.”

In the lawsuit, obtained by People, Leso M asserted that Jonasi made “false statements of fact about the meaning of the ‘Nants’ingonyama’ composition.” The filing argued that his words violated the Lanham Act, especially as he “mocked the chant’s cultural significance with exaggerated imitations.”

For the misinterpretation, which Leso M argues Jonasi stated as “authoritative fact,” the Grammy winner wants $27 million in damages. Leso M claims the false narrative perpetuated by Jonasi trivializes his work on the acclaimed film, insinuating a misuse of the Zulu language.

The complaint added, “Jonasi’s reduction to ‘Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god’ is not a simplified translation—it is a fabricated, trivializing distortion, meant as a sick joke for unlawful self-profit and destruction of the imaginative and artistic work of Lebo M. The true meaning of Nants’ ingonyama bagithi Baba is ‘All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.”

As for the hefty sum for damages, Leso M said the accusation has jeopardized his economic opportunities and representation. The two reportedly had an exchange on Instagram before Leso filed the lawsuit, in which he told Jonasi that he had undermined his career. If the issue goes to court, a jury will make the determination.

RELATED CONTENT: Former ‘Lion King’ Child Star Fatally Stabbed, New Jersey Man Arrested