Zimbabwean comedian Larnmore Jonasi is up against a $27 million lawsuit due to a joke he made about the opening lyrics of Disney’s “The Lion King.”
During an appearance last month on the One54 Africa Podcast, he humorously stated that the chant, “nantu ingonyama bagiti baba,” translates to “Look! There’s a lion! Oh my god!”
Lebohang Molake, known as Lebo M, who is credited as the opening chant’s vocalist, filed a legal document on March 16. He claims Jonasi made a “false statement of fact” regarding the lyrics, which he argues actually mean “Long live everyone, salute the King, and we all bow before the King.”
Lebo M is pursuing over $27 million in damages, arguing that Jonasi’s comments have disparaged the song and could negatively affect his reputation and work.
In an Instagram video from March 13, Jonasi admitted he had spoken with Lebo M about the joke, which allegedly led to a confrontation. “When he first approached me, he acted as if I was disrespecting his work,” Jonasi recounted. “I told him I’m actually a big fan, and this was just comedy. It’s a chance for him to educate people.”
Jonasi also mentioned that he felt Lebo M insulted him, calling him a “self-hating” black man for his joke.
“I realized I wasn’t dealing with someone who wanted to discuss; it felt more like an attack on my character rather than the joke itself,” he reflected.
Later, the lawsuit notice was served on Jonasi during his performance at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. He joked about his new gluten allergy and anxiety, stating, “I’m an American now.”
Jonasi has set up a GoFundMe seeking legal assistance, denying the claims in the lawsuit and asserting that his joke reignited interest in both the movie and the song. He noted that many people reached out, saying the joke made them want to rewatch the film, which he found encouraging.
