Comedy is meant to be funny, but jokes sometimes do not land, and people get offended instead of bursting into laughter. This is the predicament Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore (Jonasi) Mwanyenyeka finds himself in.
Mwanyenyeka was served legal papers of a lawsuit initiated against him by Grammy Award-winning and internationally acclaimed composer Lebo M for $27 million. The comedian shared clips of the moment on his social media accounts, explaining to the audience that he is being sued for making a joke about “The Lion King”.
In a follow-up video, Mwanyenyeka confirmed that he was indeed being sued for telling “that Lion King joke” as he asked his followers if there were any good lawyers out there to assist him.
“Yep, I am officially getting sued for telling that ‘Lion King’ joke. This is crazy. Any good lawyers out here, please,” he captioned his video.
In a follow-up post, Mwanyenyeka explained the situation he is facing to his followers as he asked for assistance through his GoFundMe page.
In his plea, Mwanyenyeka explained that what started as a bit of humor has escalated into a devastating legal battle. “I was recently hit with a $27 million lawsuit by renowned artist Lebohang Morake (Lebo M) over a joke I made about the Lion King’s opening Zulu chant.”
He further explained that he is a passionate creator who never intended harm, but now faces overwhelming legal fees to defend his right to speak and tell jokes.
“The total cost for my defense is beyond my means, and I need your help.
“Every donation, big or small, will directly go toward my legal representation, so I can fight this unjust claim and protect my livelihood. Please help me raise the funds needed so I can keep telling my story.”
Lebo M’s lawsuit cites multiple causes for legal action, including misleading representation under the Lanham Act, defamation per se, trade libel, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage.
“Nants’ Ingonyama” is most notable for its prominent feature in Disney’s “The Lion King,” and is not merely a viral catchphrase, as Mwanyenyeka suggests. Instead, it represents Praise Imbongi, a revered form of royal praise poetry that plays a vital role in African cultural identity.
“This is not merely a legal matter – it is a cultural correction,” stated Tshepo Mboni, Lebo M’s global spokesperson.
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