'Lion King' singer sues comedian for $20M for mistranslating 'Circle of Life' chant
New York Post • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Grammy-winning South African vocalist Lebohang Morake is suing Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi for $20 million, alleging Jonasi intentionally misrepresented the meaning of the “Circle of Life” chant from Disney’s “The Lion King.”
- Morake claims Jonasi falsely translated the Zulu chant “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” as “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God,” mocking its cultural significance and damaging Morake’s reputation and business relationships.
- Disney’s official translation of the chant is “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king,” with “lion” interpreted metaphorically as “king” depending on context.
- Jonasi has expressed admiration for Morake’s work and initially offered to collaborate on an educational video, but declined after a contentious exchange, while the dispute has sparked viral debate on social media.
- The lawsuit also seeks $7 million in punitive damages, alleging Jonasi’s actions have diminished the commercial value of Morake’s work and royalties.
