Grammy Award-winning composer Lebohang Morake, popularly known as Lebo M, has filed a federal lawsuit seeking $27 million (KSh 3.5 billion) against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka. The legal action alleges that the comedian’s viral “translation” of the iconic Lion King opening chant has trivialized decades of cultural work and caused significant artistic damage.
The Linguistic Dispute
The core of the legal battle centers on the opening Zulu and Xhosa chant from the 1994 film and Broadway show: “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba.” According to the lawsuit, the correct translation is: “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” The filing emphasizes that the chant is a Praise Imbongi—a sacred form of royal praise poetry rooted in African sovereign tradition.
However, Mwanyenyeka, a Los Angeles-based content creator, claimed during an appearance on the One54 Africa podcast that the phrase simply translates to: “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.” When questioned on the podcast if he was joking, the comedian doubled down, asserting that his version was the literal meaning.
Allegations of “Actual Malice” and Trivialization
Lebo M’s legal team argues that while the word “ingonyama” can translate to “lion” in a literal sense, its use in royal metaphor signifies ancestral authority and kingship. The complaint describes Mwanyenyeka’s version as a “fabricated, trivializing distortion” intended for “unlawful self-profit.”
The lawsuit further alleges “actual malice,” claiming that Mwanyenyeka continued to perform the bit at comedy clubs across the United States after the clip went viral. Morake accuses the comedian of attempting to monetize the joke through merchandise, effectively seeking to “erase more than 30 years of cultural and artistic work.”
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Courtroom Drama at the Laugh Factory
The legal proceedings took a theatrical turn when Mwanyenyeka was served with the lawsuit while performing on stage at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Footage posted to the comedian’s Instagram shows a person approaching the stage with a manila folder.
Upon being told he was being served, Mwanyenyeka laughed and shared the backstory of the viral joke with his audience. Following the incident, the comedian launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover his legal expenses. The $27 million sought by Lebo M includes $20 million in alleged damages and $7 million in estimated disgorgement of profits.
Cultural Impact and Audience Reaction
The lawsuit cites comments from viewers who claimed the comedian’s translation had “ruined their childhood,” suggesting the joke led many to believe the original work lacked the depth and royal significance intended by its creator.
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For Lebo M, the case is about more than money; it is a defense of South African linguistic heritage. The composer maintains that reducing a royal proclamation to a “sick joke” damages the global perception of African artistic contributions.
Expected Developments
A federal court in the United States will now determine whether Mwanyenyeka’s performance falls under protected satirical speech or if it constitutes a damaging distortion of intellectual property. Legal experts expect the case to hinge on whether the comedian’s claims of a “correct translation” moved the bit from the realm of parody into a factual misrepresentation that harmed the composer’s brand.
