GRAMMY Award-winning composer and performer Lebo M has had enough.
The legendary Mzansi artist, whose real name is Lebohang Morake, has broken his silence following widespread public misinterpretations of the iconic opening chant from The Lion King.
The 61-year-old globally acclaimed musician issued a formal clarification addressing the authorship, translation and cultural meaning of "Nants' Ingonyama".
According to Lebo M, the chant has recently been misrepresented and misunderstood online, prompting him to set the record straight about its true significance and heritage.
He made it clear that "Nants' Ingonyama" is neither a viral catchphrase nor an internet remix, but a praise imbongi - royal praise poetry carried in metaphor, lineage and living memory.
The powerful statement came in response to recent public misinterpretations of the opening chant that has captivated audiences worldwide for decades.
"Rooted in the praise traditions of the Zulu and Xhosa people and introduced to global audiences through The Lion King, the chant translates to 'Here comes a lion' - a proclamation of arrival, honor and sovereignty. It is praise, not parody. It is heritage and not hashtag," read the statement.
The statement emphasised that reinterpreting it outside its cultural framework is to detach it from the very tradition that gives it meaning.
Its translation is documented. Its origins are lived. Its significance is inherited, not invented.
ALSO READ | Jazz singer: My heart beats for Mzansi!Opens in new window
The opening line "Nants' ingonyama bagithi Baba" was officially translated and documented in The Lion King 2019 soundtrack cover liner notes as "All hail the king."
Further lines were translated in the 2019 liner notes as "Sithi huu ngonyama" meaning "praise chant."
"This marked the first time the full contextual translation was formally published in the official 2019 soundtrack cover notes - reinforcing the chant's meaning as Royal Praise in Metaphor rooted in isiZulu and isiXhosa tradition," they said.
Lebo M himself spoke powerfully about the cultural significance of his work.
"I recorded Nants' Ingonyama as Praise Imbongi - Royal Praise in Metaphor. It's a declaration of kingship and ancestral authority. The 2019 soundtrack liner notes finally published the contextual translation to ensure clarity. African language carries weight, spirituality and history. I will always stand in protection of its dignity," he said.
His team said they welcome discussion but drew a firm line in the sand.
"What we do not welcome is the erosion of cultural literacy. Lebo M did not simply perform a song. He introduced African language and royal praise in metaphor to the global cinematic archive. That is not viral content. That is history. As custodians of legacy, we will always choose education over outrage and elevation over noise," they said.
