Comedian Learnmore Jonasi Launches GoFundMe To Fight Lion King Composer Lebo M’s ‘Unjust’ R486 Million Lawsuit

Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi has turned to the public for financial help after being hit with a staggering R486 million (US$27 million) lawsuit by Grammy-winning South African composer Lebohang Morake, known globally as Lebo M. The legal battle stems from a joke Jonasi made about the famous Zulu chant from Disney’s The Lion King, a dispute that has now erupted into a full-blown courtroom drama in Los Angeles.

Jonasi, who has been making waves in the United States with his stand-up career, took to Facebook on 25 March 2026 to announce the launch of a GoFundMe campaign. The comedian, who is based in West Hollywood, California, revealed that he needs to raise R360,000 (US$20,000) just to cover his initial legal defence costs.

In an emotional plea posted from West Hollywood, Jonasi wrote:

“My name is Learnmore Jonasi, and I am reaching out during one of the most difficult moments in my life. I was recently hit with a R486 million (US$27 million) lawsuit by renowned artist Lebohang Morake (Lebo M) over a joke I made about the Lion King’s opening Zulu chant. What started as a bit of humor has escalated into a devastating legal battle.”

He added:

“I am a passionate creator who never intended harm, but I now face overwhelming legal fees just to defend my right to speak and tell jokes. The total cost for my defense is beyond my means, and I need your help.”

Within just 16 hours of launching the fundraising campaign, supporters had already donated R176,000 (US$9,780) from 388 individual donations. The response has been swift, with Jonasi expressing gratitude in a campaign update posted on the same day.

“Hey everybody, I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who donated to my GoFundMe. I am truly grateful for all your support and kindness. Because of you, I now have a fighting chance with this lawsuit. Your help means more to me than words can explain, and I really appreciate every single one of you,” Jonasi wrote.

What Sparked The R486 Million Legal Fight?

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles earlier in March 2026, centres on Jonasi’s translation of the iconic opening chant from The Lion King. Lebo M, who composed and performed the chant for the 1994 animated classic, as well as the 2019 remake and stage productions, claims the comedian intentionally misrepresented the song’s meaning, damaging his reputation and business relationships.

According to court documents, the dispute stems from comments Jonasi made during a podcast appearance and in his stand-up routines. On an episode of the One54 podcast, Jonasi corrected Nigerian hosts who were singing the chant incorrectly, before offering his own translation of the Zulu lyrics.

When asked what the words meant, Jonasi allegedly told the hosts they translated to:

“Look, there’s a lion. Oh my god.” The hosts burst into laughter, noting they had always believed the chant was something more “beautiful and majestic”.

Disney’s official translation of the opening phrase “Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba” is: “All hail the king, we all bow in the presence of the king.” The chant continues with “Hay! baba, sizongqoba,” which Lebo M says translates to “through you we will emerge victoriously”.

The lawsuit acknowledges that “ingonyama” can literally translate to “lion” in isiZulu, but argues that in the context of the song, it is used as a royal metaphor. Lebo M’s legal team contends that Jonasi presented his translation “as authoritative fact, not comedy”, arguing that the remarks should not receive the First Amendment protections typically afforded to parody and satire.

The legal filings claim Jonasi’s viral statements are interfering with Morake’s business relationships with Disney and his royalty income, seeking more than R360 million (US$20 million) in actual damages plus an additional R126 million (US$7 million) in punitive damages.

‘Comedy Always Has A Way Of Starting Conversation’

In a video posted on Instagram last week, before the lawsuit was officially filed, Jonasi addressed the brewing controversy. He said he was a “big fan” of Lebo M’s work and had initially wanted to collaborate with the composer to create an educational video about the chant’s deeper meaning.

“Comedy always has a way of starting conversation,” Jonasi said in the video, which garnered more than 100,000 likes. “This is your chance to actually educate people, because now people are listening.”

However, Jonasi revealed that he changed his mind about working with Lebo M after the composer allegedly called him “self-hating” in private messages. The comedian said the reaction ignored the broader context of his work, which he described as a nuanced critique of how African identity is portrayed in American productions.

The legal dispute has captured significant attention among South African audiences, with Lebo M’s lawyers arguing that Jonasi’s jokes go beyond protected comedy. The complaint states that Jonasi “received a standing ovation” for a similar joke during a 12 March performance in Los Angeles, which they claim demonstrates the commercial impact of his statements.

The Associated Press reported on 25 March 2026 that Disney had not responded to requests for comment on the legal proceedings. The Guardian also confirmed they reached out for comment but had not received a response at the time of publishing.

Jonasi, whose full name is Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, continues his US tour while navigating the legal challenge. His GoFundMe page, titled “Help Learnmore Fight an Unjust Lawsuit”, remains active as supporters rally behind the comedian in what has become a high-stakes clash between two prominent African artists on American soil.

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