Lebo M Productions Addresses $27m Lawsuit Dismissal and $39 560 Fee Order Against Learnmore Jonasi
- Lebo M Productions issued a statement on 20 October 2026 confirming the conclusion of its legal battle with Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi
- The $27 million lawsuit, filed in California over a joke about The Lion King's opening chant, was withdrawn and dismissed in July 2026
- A US court ordered Lebo M to pay Jonasi $39 560 in attorney fees, an amount the company confirmed it has settled in full
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South African composer and Lion King producer Lebo M has spoken out about the end of his legal dispute with Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, a case that began over a lighthearted joke about a Disney chant and spiralled into a multimillion-dollar lawsuit. Lebo M Productions released a formal statement on 20 October 2026, detailing how the matter unfolded and where it now stands.
The conflict traces back to February 2026, when Jonasi appeared on the One54 Africa podcast and joked that the Zulu lyrics Nants' Ingonyama, heard in the iconic opening of The Lion King, translated to "Look, there's a lion. Oh my god." Lebohang Morake, who goes by Lebo M professionally, disputed that interpretation and raised concerns about what he described as a misrepresentation of the lyrics' cultural weight.
The $27 million lawsuit
In March 2026, Lebo M filed a lawsuit in California citing defamation and trademark infringement, seeking $27 million in damages. According to the company, the figure was a deliberate reference to the 27 years Nelson Mandela spent imprisoned. Jonasi's legal team pushed back using California's anti-SLAPP law, a statute designed to protect individuals from lawsuits targeting constitutionally protected speech. The case was withdrawn and dismissed in July 2026.
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Court orders attorney fees
On 28 August 2026, the US District Court issued a ruling under California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16(c), ordering Lebo M to pay Jonasi $39 560 in attorney fees. Lebo M Productions confirmed the payment was made in full. The company also noted that Jonasi's legal team had sought roughly $91 000 in additional fees through a proposed multiplier, but the court did not grant that portion of the application.
According to The Citizen, Lebo M Productions stated that the case was withdrawn without prejudice, meaning the company retains the right to revisit the matter depending on procedural rules, limitation periods, and applicable legal requirements. The company also alleged that a former legal representative made court submissions without authorisation, though this claim has not been confirmed through any judicial finding.
For his part, Jonasi has maintained that his interpretation of the lyrics was not inaccurate, pointing out that he speaks conversational Zulu, having lived in South Africa. He also shared on podcaster Mac G's platform that he is currently in a relationship with a South African.
Lebo M defended Action SA
Lebo M posted a video from what appears to be a hotel room, addressing his political endorsements head-on after his inbox was flooded with responses.
The Lion King composer slammed the ANC over what he described as the destruction of infrastructure, hospitals and institutions he once knew.
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Source: Briefly News
