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The Grammy-winning composer behind the signature opening chant in the song \u201cCircle of Life<\/a>\u201d for \u201cThe Lion King<\/a>\u201d movies is taking a comedian to court for allegedly damaging his reputation by misrepresenting the song\u2019s meaning on a viral podcast episode.<\/p>\n In a federal lawsuit filed this month seeking millions in damages, Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, accused Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi of intentionally botching the translation of the lyrics, central to both the Disney films and the musical theater adaptations<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting sued for $27 million and to make matters worse, I got served the lawsuit while I was performing,\u201d Jonasi said<\/a> in a post on social media Tuesday. The post included a clip of the comedian performing at the Laugh Factory<\/a> when a manila envelope is tossed onstage. <\/p>\n \u201cRight now, I\u2019m looking for a lawyer. … I can\u2019t believe I\u2019m getting sued for telling a joke. What kind of stupid world do we live in?\u201d he added.<\/p>\n It all started when Jonasi\u2019s appearance on the \u201cOne54\u201d podcast<\/a> went viral late last month. In the episode of \u201cOne54\u201d cited in the lawsuit, one of the podcast\u2019s Nigerian hosts, Akbar Gbajabiamila, prompts the comedian with \u201cI heard you had a problem with the \u2018Lion King,\u2019 why?\u201d He then breaks into song, trying his hand at the chant and butchering the delivery. <\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not how you sing it, don\u2019t mess up our language like that,\u201d Jonasi says, before singing the correct lyrics in Zulu. When the hosts ask what it means, he says it translates to: \u201cLook, there\u2019s a lion. Oh, my God.\u201d <\/p>\n The hosts erupt with laughter, saying that they\u2019d always thought the chant was something more \u201cbeautiful and majestic.\u201d<\/p>\n Jonasi often uses the same \u201cLion King\u201d bit in his stand-up routines. He translates the song\u2019s lyrics from Zulu and Xhosa, two of South Africa\u2019s 12 national languages, and offers a broader critique on the film. <\/p>\n In Season 19 of \u201cAmerica\u2019s Got Talent<\/a>,\u201d the comedian won over audiences by joking about how American movies about Africa often confuse Africans, asking, \u201cWhy do the lions have American accents?\u201d <\/p>\n The civil lawsuit accuses Jonasi of intentionally mocking \u201cthe chant\u2019s cultural significance with exaggerated imitations,\u201d according to the complaint. <\/p>\n Disney\u2019s official translation of the opening phrase \u201cNants\u2019ingonyama bagithi Baba\u201d is \u201cAll hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHay! baba, sizongqoba,\u201d the chant continues. It translates to \u201cThrough you we will emerge victoriously,\u201d according to Lebo M.<\/p>\n Lebo M\u2019s lawyers acknowledged in the complaint that \u201cingonyama\u201d can literally translate to \u201clion,\u201d but said it\u2019s used in the song as a \u201croyal metaphor\u201d that invokes kingship, and that Jonasi intentionally misrepresented \u201can African vocal proclamation grounded in South African tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n Jonasi \u201creceived a standing ovation\u201d for a similar joke he made about the song during a March 12 stand-up performance in Los Angeles, according to the lawsuit. Such viral statements, it says, are interfering with Lebo M\u2019s business relationships with Disney and his income from royalties, causing more than $20 million in actual damages. The lawsuit also seeks $7 million in punitive damages.<\/p>\n The complaint also argues that Jonasi presented his translation \u201cas authoritative fact, not comedy,\u201d so it shouldn\u2019t get the 1st Amendment protections afforded to parody and satire.<\/p>\n Jonasi and reps for Lebo M didn\u2019t respond to emails seeking comment, but the two have been busy on social media, making alternating statements and sub-posting each other for weeks.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, Jonasi revealed<\/a> that he\u2019d been receiving threats on social media for offending his fellow Africans. \u201cIt was never my intention to disrespect anybody,\u201d he said in the video posted to Instagram. \u201cWhen I went on that podcast, my intention was actually to talk about African identity. … I\u2019d like to apologize to anybody that I hurt. But my comedy was a way to crack open a window for a conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had no idea the chant from \u2018The Lion King\u2019 was a royal welcoming song … I speak a little bit of Zulu, so I directly translated the words, and I even spoke to some of my South African friends, and most of them don\u2019t even know what it means. And the rest of the world thought it was actually gibberish.\u201d <\/p>\n A few days later, Lebo M posted his own Instagram video, saying he had attempted to speak with Jonasi privately, but claimed the comedian had disrespected him. \u201cYou are riding a huge wave of going viral on negativity,\u201d he said in the video. <\/p>\n \u201cI would like to encourage you to please slow down. You have a long way to go. I wish you success, but you cannot disrespect other people\u2019s cultures that gave you the first opportunity to start with and claim it\u2019s comedy. … You continue making a mockery of my work … the likes and the viral things won\u2019t be there when it\u2019s just you.\u201d<\/p>\n After exchanging a few more public statements via Instagram, Jonasi was served with court papers.<\/p>\n He shared the news online and announced he\u2019s selling merchandise and launching a GoFundMe to raise money for his defense. The shirts and hoodies<\/a> for sale feature two different designs \u2014 one reads \u201cLook it\u2019s a lion,\u201d and the other \u201cLook it\u2019s a lawsuit, Oh, my God.\u201d As of Friday afternoon, Jonasi\u2019s GoFundMe raised more than $17,000. <\/p>\n The tense situation seemed to be cooling on Friday morning, when Lebo M posted a lengthy statement to Instagram <\/a>signaling a shift from an impending courtroom showdown to what his team is calling a \u201cwhite flag moment.\u201d <\/p>\n According to the post, Lebo M\u2019s team has contacted Jonasi to \u201cexplore the possibility of a structured settlement.\u201d <\/p>\n The Associated Press contributed to this report. <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n