US-based Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi has drawn the ire of the legendary composer and director after his literal translation of Nants’ Ingonyama, the iconic opening lines of The Lion King, went viral.
Speaking on the One54 Africa podcast, Jonasi explained that the legendary opening lines don’t actually translate to a deep philosophical treatise on the cosmos.
Instead, he claimed the literal translation is: “Look, there is a lion. Oh my God!”
Jonasi’s revelation shocked many fans and quickly went viral, with some social media users jokingly claiming the comedian had “killed their childhood”.
The Lion King soundtrack composer, Lebo M, responded harshly, accusing Jonasi of destroying culture and tradition.
Lebo M clarified that the phrase is rooted in Zulu and Xhosa Praise Imbongi (royal praise poetry).
It serves as a proclamation of arrival, honour and sovereignty, where the lion symbolises kingship, ancestral authority, and a sovereign presence.
In a statement, Lebo M detailed the cultural, linguistic, and contextual nuances that Jonasi’s joke overlooked.
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“Nants’ Ingonyama is not a viral catchphrase. It is not an internet remix. It is Praise Imbongi — royal praise poetry carried in metaphor, lineage, and living memory,” Lebo M said.
“It is praise, not parody. It is heritage, not a hashtag.”
Lebo M further noted that the full contextual translation was officially documented in the liner notes of The Lion King’s 2019 soundtrack to reinforce its roots in isiZulu and isiXhosa traditions.
According to the official documentation, Nants’ ingonyama bagithi Baba means “All hail the king”.
Lebo M emphasised that Ingonyama means “lion” only in a literal sense; in royal metaphor, it represents ancestral authority.
He stressed that the chant was conceived as an African vocal proclamation grounded in Southern African tradition, standing independently from the English song Circle of Life.
“We welcome discussion. What we do not welcome is the erosion of cultural literacy,” the statement continued.
“Lebo M did not simply perform a song — he introduced African language and royal praise to the global cinematic archive. That is not viral content; that is history.”
In a follow up video which has gone viral on social media, Lebo M lashes at Jonasi calling him an idiot, disrespectful, ignorant, and a wanna be comedian.
