A United States federal court orders South African composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake to pay Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi US$39,560 in statutory attorneys’ fees. The decision follows a legal dispute that stems from Jonasi’s joke connected to The Lion King’s well-known Zulu chant.
According to the reports, Jonasi—whose birth name is Learnmore Mwanyenyeka—succeeds in establishing himself as the prevailing party in the case. The court ruling focuses on the fee award, rather than describing any broader damages or changes to the underlying legal claims.
The Zimbabwe Independent and New Zimbabwe describe the same outcome and figure, attributing the dispute to the controversy over comedic remarks involving the chant associated with the film. Both outlets present the ruling as a post-judgment financial outcome tied to Jonasi’s success in the litigation, without detailing additional procedural steps beyond the fee determination.
