Composer of ‘Lion King’ chant sues comedian over ‘Circle of Life’ translation
Composer of ‘Lion King’ chant sues comedian over ‘Circle of Life’ translation
Michelle Del Rey , USA TODAY Thu, March 26, 2026 at 9:21 PM UTC
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Lebohang Morake, the Grammy‑winning South African composer known professionally as Lebo M, is suing a comedian for $27 million, alleging a viral joke about the opening chant of The Lion King distorted the meaning of the song and damaged his life’s work.
Morake wrote the opening chant to Disney’s 1994 animated film and Broadway hit, "The Lion King": “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba,” a line written in isiZulu and isiXhosa, translates to “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king,” according to a federal lawsuit filed March 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and reviewed by USA TODAY.
The chant, the lawsuit says, is a Praise Imbongi, a form of royal praise poetry, and stands independently as an African vocal proclamation rooted in cultural tradition.
Last month, Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, a Zimbabwean‑born comedian and content creator, said during an appearance on the One54 Africa podcast that the chant translates to: “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.”
When asked if he was joking, Mwanyenyeka replied, “That’s exactly what it means.”
South African composer Lebo M poses for a portrait, in central London, on December 12, 2024
According to the complaint, multiple viewers stated they believed the translation was correct, with some describing it as having "ruined their childhood."
While “ingonyama” can translate to “lion” in Zulu, according to the lawsuit, in Praise Imbongi and royal metaphor, “Ngonyama or Ingonyama” signifies kingship, ancestral authority, and sovereign presence.
The translation "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 lawsuit states.
Morake accused the comedian of attempting to erase more than 30 years of cultural and artistic work. Mwanyenyeka, according to the complaint, said he had been performing the joke for eight years.
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The lawsuit further alleges Mwanyenyeka continued using the bit at comedy clubs in Los Angeles and across the U.S. after the clip went viral and attempted to monetize it through merchandise. His attorneys argue those actions demonstrate “actual malice.”
Members of "The Lion King" perform at the final dress rehearsal on Dec. 2007 in Leipzig, Germany.
More: Review: Disney's new 'Lion King' revamp razzles and dazzles but feels all too familiar
Comedian served during performance
Mwanyenyeka was served while appearing at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles this month and posted footage of the incident on his Instagram.
In the footage, someone with a manila folder approaches the stage as Mwanyenyeka performs. The comedian asks: "What is this? What does this say?" And the person responds, "service."
Recognizing the lawsuit, Mwanyenyeka proceeded to laugh and told the audience the backstory of the viral jest.
"Listen: I now have a gluten allergy, anxiety, I got served, I'm now American!" The comedian jokes to laughter and applause before asking if anyone in the room is a lawyer.
Comedian launches GoFundMe
Mwanyenyeka has since launched a GoFundMe to help cover legal expenses related to the lawsuit, which seeks more than $20 million in alleged damages and estimates disgorgement of profits at about $7 million. As of March 26, the fundraiser had raised $12,468 toward a $20,000 goal. In a statement posted on the page, Mwanyenyeka thanked donors for their support, writing, “Because of you, I now have a fighting chance with this lawsuit.”
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at dmerley@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Circle of Life’ composer sues comedian over botched viral translation
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
