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Composer and performer Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, reportedly sought $27 million from comedian Learnmore Jonasi over a joking interpretation of the chant associated with “Circle of Life” in Disney’s The Lion King. The lawsuit was dismissed on July 10, 2026, and later reporting says Morake was ordered to pay $39,560 in attorneys’ fees. The case did not decide what the chant means.
What sparked the dispute?
The dispute followed Jonasi’s appearance on the One54 Africa podcast, where he joked about the opening chant “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba.” News reports described his rendering as something along the lines of “Look, there’s a lion. Oh, my god.” The chant is associated with “Circle of Life,” the song heard near the beginning of The Lion King.
![The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by artist [1994]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41wKvMV0r7L._SL160_.jpg)
![Lion King On Broadway [CD/DVD Combo]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61PqWtaxT8L._SL160_.jpg)
Morake’s reported interpretation was “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” Those are the competing positions as described in coverage, not a translation established by a linguistic authority or by the court. Billboard’s account of the complaint and dispute describes the claims and the competing renderings.
Why did Lebo M sue Learnmore Jonasi?
Morake’s complaint reportedly alleged that Jonasi falsely represented the chant’s meaning and harmed Morake’s work and reputation. Reporting said the complaint characterized Jonasi’s version as a “fabricated, trivializing distortion.” Those are allegations attributed to Morake, not findings that the court made.
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The $27 million was the amount Morake reportedly sought in damages. It was not a court valuation, settlement, or award.
Was the $27 million lawsuit successful?
No. Reporting says the case was dismissed on July 10, 2026. The Hollywood Reporter’s account of the dismissal covers the case’s outcome.
Why was Morake ordered to pay attorneys’ fees?
A later report says that, in an order dated August 28, Judge Josephine L. Staton directed Morake to pay Jonasi $39,560 in attorneys’ fees under California’s anti-SLAPP statute. The award followed Jonasi’s success for purposes of that proceeding; it was not a damages award to Morake. Court News Service’s report on the fee order gives the reported amount and procedural context.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Did the court decide what the chant means?
No. The dismissal and fee ruling did not establish that Jonasi’s joke was a correct translation, nor did they adjudicate Morake’s interpretation as linguistically correct. The legal outcome concerns the lawsuit and its fees; the sources reporting on it do not identify a court ruling or independent linguistic authority settling the phrase’s meaning.
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