New photo Disney accused of ‘colonialism and robbery’ for trademarking ‘hakuna matata’ Lion King catchphrase

DISNEY has been accused of “colonialism and robbery” for trademarking the phrase “hakuna matata” from the hit cartoon film The Lion King.

More than 70,000 people have signed a petition demanding the Hollywood studio drop its commercial rights to the Swalhili phrase amid outcry over alleged cultural appropriation.

Alamy

Outraged activists accused Disney of colonialism over it’s trademarking of the phrase[/caption]

The expression means “no worries” in the language, which is spoken across Africa and is the national language of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Zimbabwean activist Shelton Mpala who started the online petition, said: “I liken this to colonialism and robbery, the appropriation of something you have no right over.

“Imagine, if we were to go that route, then we owe the British royalties for everyone who speaks English, or France for when we speak French.

“Disney can’t be allowed to trademark something that it didn’t invent.”

The phrase featured in the original 1994 blockbuster and was the title of the song, by Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice.

‘Hakuna matata’ means ‘no worries’ in Swahili and became an iconic phrase associated with the 1994 classic

The row has erupted in the months before Disney releases an eagerly anticipated remake of the film featuring the voices of Beyonce and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Disney first applied to trademark the phrase in 1994 and it was later registered for clothing.

But Liz Lenjo, a Kenyan intellectual property lawyer, said Disney “had not stolen anything”.

She said: “The use of ‘hakuna matata’ by Disney does not take away the value of the language. East Africans, or whoever speaks Swahili worldwide, are not restricted from using the phrase.”

Nonetheless, floods of people are still signing the petition, which states: “‘Hakuna matata’ is a Swahili language phrase from East Africa; translate, it means ‘no trouble’. The word ‘hakuna’ means ‘there is not here’ while ‘matata’ means ‘problems’.

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“Hakuna matata has been used by most Kiswahili-speaking countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Disney can’t be allowed to trademark something that it didn’t invent.

“While we respect Disney as an entertainment institution responsible for creating many of our childhood memories, the decision to trademark ‘hakuna matata’ is predicated purely on greed and is an insult not only the spirit of the Swahili people but also, Africa as a whole.”

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https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/disney-accused-of-colonialism-and-robbery-for-trademarking-hakuna-matata-lion-king-catchphrase/
News Pictures Disney accused of ‘colonialism and robbery’ for trademarking ‘hakuna matata’ Lion King catchphrase

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