US court orders Lebo M to pay comedian Learnmore Jonasi R640,000

In a recent legal ruling, US District Judge Josephine L. Staton has ordered South African composer and performer Lebohang "Lebo M" Morake to pay Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, also known as Learnmore Jonasi, $39,560 (approximately R640,000) in attorneys' fees. The decision, issued on August 28, 2026, in the case Lebohang Morake v.

Learnmore Mwanyenyeka, does not determine the accuracy of Mwanyenyeka's comedic interpretation of the iconic opening chant from Disney's "The Lion King". The ruling specifically addresses the legal fees incurred during Mwanyenyeka's successful anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) proceedings. Anti-SLAPP protections enable defendants to challenge lawsuits stemming from protected speech, potentially leading to fee recovery for successful defendants.

The dispute originated when Mwanyenyeka jokingly translated the Zulu phrase "Nants’ingonyama bagithi Baba" as "Look, there's a lion. Oh my god" during comedic performances. Morake, credited as the creator and original performer of the chant, claimed the translation was incorrect and argued that the comments undermined the cultural and artistic value of his work.

He initially sought $27 million in damages, but the court eventually awarded $39,560 in legal fees after reviewing billing records and adjusting calculations. The court reduced the initial $45,935 claim after finding that attorney Bryan Sullivan had mistakenly used a higher hourly rate for attorney Zachary Hansen's work. The judge also rejected Mwanyenyeka's request for an enhanced fee of at least three times the calculated amount, deeming it unwarranted.

While the ruling does not settle the linguistic correctness of the chant, it clarifies whether Mwanyenyeka was entitled to recover his legal expenses following his successful invocation of California's anti-SLAPP protections.