It means no worries.
So, we’re all very freakin’ excited for the live action remake of Disney’s The Lion King.
And as the hype builds, it seems as though those behind the scenes at Disney have been receiving some backlash.
Why?
Well, basically Disney has a trademark over the Swahili phrase ‘hakuna matata’, which as we all know, means ‘no worries’.
A petition was recently launched urging the company to renounce the trademark, which is a phrase commonly used in East Africa.
The petition reads as follows:
“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’.”
“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,” it continues.
“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.”
“The movie is set in Africa and the characters have African names which further makes the decision to implement the trademark a perplexing one. The term ‘Hakuna Matata’ is not a Disney creation hence not an infringement on intellectual or creative property, but an assault on the Swahili people and Africa as a whole.”
“It sets a terrible precedence and sullies the very spirit of the term to begin with. At a time when divisiveness has taken over the world, one would think re-releasing a movie that celebrates the unlikely friendships, acceptance, and unity, Disney would make a decision that goes completely against these values.”
The petition currently has over 154,000 signatures, with a goal of 200,000.
What do you reckon? Do Disney have a right to the trademark?
