‘Lion King’ Composer Sues Comedian Over Viral Translation of Iconic Opening Chant, Seeking $27 Million

The unmistakable opening chant of “The Lion King” is one of the most recognizable moments in film history. Now, a dispute over what those words actually mean has landed in federal court.

South African composer Lebohang Morake, the Grammy-winning artist who wrote and performed the “Circle of Life” opening chant, has filed a lawsuit against comedian Learnmore Jonasi. The suit, filed this month in federal court in Los Angeles, accuses Jonasi of intentionally mistranslating the chant from Zulu and Xhosa and mocking “the chant’s cultural significance with exaggerated imitations.”

Morake is seeking a jury trial and $27 million in damages — more than $20 million in compensatory damages and $7 million in punitive damages. Morake lives in Los Angeles, and Jonasi recently performed there.

What the Chant Really Means

The chant has been central to the 1994 film, its stage versions and the 2019 remake. According to Disney’s official translation, “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” means “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” The line “Hay! baba, sizongqoba” translates to “Through you we will emerge victoriously,” according to Morake.