South African composer and producer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake is weighing his legal options after a United States federal court ordered him to pay US$39,560 in...
South African composer and producer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake is weighing his legal options after a United States federal court ordered him to pay US$39,560 in attorneys’ fees to Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi following their legal dispute over a joke about The Lion King’s famous opening chant.
Morake and his legal team said they were studying the implications of the latest court determination and evaluating the options available to them. The statement indicated that the matter was not being treated as a personal dispute or something that would be litigated through social media.
The latest development follows a US$27 million lawsuit filed by Morake against Jonasi earlier this year in the US District Court for the Central District of California. The legal action followed comments made by Jonasi during a podcast appearance concerning the meaning of “Nants’ Ingonyama bagithi Baba”, the opening chant from The Lion King’s Circle of Life.
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Jonasi, whose real name is Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, had jokingly interpreted the phrase as “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God.” Morake challenged the interpretation and accused the comedian of misrepresenting the chant and damaging his reputation and the cultural significance associated with the work.
The dispute later moved into the area of free speech after Jonasi challenged Morake’s claims under California’s anti-SLAPP law. The legislation provides protections for certain forms of protected expression and can allow a successful defendant to recover legal fees.
The original case was dismissed in July. According to reports on the proceedings, the dismissal was without prejudice, meaning the court did not issue a final ruling determining whether Jonasi’s interpretation of the chant was linguistically or culturally correct.
The dispute did not end with the dismissal, however, because Jonasi subsequently pursued recovery of the legal costs associated with defending himself. The question before the court then became whether he qualified as the prevailing party under California’s anti-SLAPP provisions.
On August 28, US District Judge Josephine L. Staton ruled in Jonasi’s favour on the attorneys’ fees issue. The court determined that Jonasi had achieved the objective of his anti-SLAPP motion and was entitled to recover attorneys’ fees.
The court calculated the reasonable value of Jonasi’s legal services at US$39,560. Jonasi’s lawyers had initially sought a higher amount, but the court reduced the award after reviewing the work performed and the rates charged. The judge also declined a request for an additional multiplier that would have increased the amount.
The amount awarded is notable because reports indicate that Jonasi personally paid substantially less than US$39,560 for his legal representation. His lawyers had reportedly discounted their fees, with Jonasi paying about US$5,350 out of pocket. The court nevertheless based the statutory award on the reasonable value of the legal services rather than simply the amount paid by the comedian.
The ruling does not mean that the court decided Jonasi’s humorous translation was the correct meaning of the Zulu phrase. It also does not constitute a ruling on the cultural debate surrounding the chant. Instead, the latest decision specifically concerns the anti-SLAPP proceedings and Jonasi’s entitlement to recover attorneys’ fees.
The original legal dispute began after Jonasi discussed the Circle of Life chant during a podcast. The comments went viral and attracted the attention of Morake, who is closely associated with the music of The Lion King and its internationally recognised opening sequence.
Morake subsequently brought legal claims against Jonasi, with reports putting the value of the original lawsuit at US$27 million. The claims included allegations involving defamation and other forms of alleged misrepresentation connected to Jonasi’s comments.
Jonasi maintained that his comments were made in a comedic context. His legal challenge argued that his expression was protected, bringing California’s anti-SLAPP protections and First Amendment considerations into the case.
The legal battle attracted attention in Zimbabwe and South Africa because it involved two African entertainers from different countries and centred on a cultural work that has achieved worldwide recognition.
Morake has been associated with The Lion King since its original release and is recognised for his contribution to the music and performance of the production. Jonasi, meanwhile, has established himself internationally as a Zimbabwean comedian.
The case therefore moved beyond the original podcast comment and became a legal dispute involving comedy, cultural expression, free speech and legal costs.
Morake’s latest position suggests that the August 28 ruling may not necessarily be the final step from his perspective. His legal team is examining the court’s decision and the options that remain available to them.
However, no further legal action has been confirmed at this stage. The available reporting indicates only that Morake and his lawyers are considering their options following the latest ruling.
The distinction is important because the US$39,560 award relates to Jonasi’s legal fees following the anti-SLAPP proceedings. It is separate from the original US$27 million claim brought by Morake.
The court’s ruling also does not settle the broader cultural discussion over the meaning and significance of “Nants’ Ingonyama bagithi Baba”. That issue was central to the dispute but was not the subject of the attorneys’ fees determination.
For Jonasi, the latest ruling represents a significant legal development after he successfully challenged the proceedings under California’s anti-SLAPP framework.
For Morake, the decision means he now faces the court-ordered attorneys’ fee award while his legal team considers what options, if any, remain.
The dispute has attracted considerable public interest because it began with a short comedic interpretation of a well-known The Lion King chant and developed into a multimillion-dollar legal confrontation.
The latest ruling has shifted attention from the original joke to the legal consequences of the case and the rights of defendants who successfully challenge claims involving protected expression.
For now, Morake’s legal team is studying the determination, while Jonasi has secured the US$39,560 attorneys’ fee award ordered by the US federal court.
The matter could therefore see further legal developments if Morake and his lawyers decide to pursue any available options. At this stage, however, no new action has been confirmed.
