Lebo M Ordered to Pay Learnmore Jonasi US$39,560 Legal Fees

South African composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake has been ordered by a United States federal court to pay Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, born Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, US$39,560 in legal fees after his lawsuit against the comedian was dismissed.

The amount, equivalent to about R640,000, was approved by the court as a reasonable sum for the legal costs incurred by Jonasi while defending the case.

The dispute centred on comments made by Jonasi during a podcast about the famous Zulu phrase “Nants’ Ingonyama, bagithi Baba”, which opens The Circle of Life from Disney’s The Lion King.

Joke over Zulu phrase sparks lawsuit

During the podcast, Jonasi joked about the literal interpretation of the Zulu words, presenting the phrase humorously as meaning, “Look, there’s a lion. Oh my God.” The comedian's remarks were intended as a joke, but Lebo M objected to the characterisation of the phrase and its cultural significance.

The South African composer argued that the chant is a sacred Zulu royal praise hymn whose meaning is closer to “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king”. Lebo M claimed that Jonasi's comments mocked the cultural significance of the phrase and harmed his reputation. The dispute subsequently escalated into legal proceedings in the United States.

Court dismisses Lebo M lawsuit

The federal court ultimately dismissed Lebo M's lawsuit against Jonasi. The latest ruling concerns the comedian's legal expenses, with the court ordering Lebo M to pay US$39,560 in attorney fees incurred by Jonasi in defending the case. The award represents a further setback for the South African musician in the dispute.

For Jonasi, the case has also highlighted the challenges comedians can face when jokes involving language, culture and traditional expressions cross cultural and legal boundaries. The comedian, who was born in Zimbabwe and has built an international career through stand-up comedy and television appearances, has become one of the country's prominent comedy exports.

The case also illustrates the tension between freedom of expression and protection of cultural identity, particularly when jokes involve phrases with religious, royal or historical significance.

While Lebo M regarded the phrase as carrying a deeper cultural meaning, Jonasi's comments were presented in the context of comedy and satire. The US court's dismissal of the lawsuit and subsequent award of legal fees now brings another significant development in the dispute.

Lebo M Learnmore Jonasi lawsuit