It means no worries!
The trademark for the catchphrase “Hakuna Matata” was approved in 2003 and remains active! There is a petition right now against Disney‘s trademark which has over 30,000 signatures.
Video: Hakuna Matata – it means No Worries/ Source: Youtube- Hakuna Matata
The Swahilian phrase means “no problem” and is the title of a song in the 1994 animated film The Lion King.
Disney applied for the phrase in 1994 to stop it from being used on unofficial merchandise.
Zimbabwean activist Shelton Mpala has now launched a petition against Disney that compares the trademark to “colonialism and robbery”…
The full petition statement reads: “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.
“Join us and say NO to DISNEY or any corporations/individuals looking to trademark languages, terms or phrases they didn’t invent.
“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 suchs 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. “
Thoughts?
Source: NME
Feature Image: The Lion King 1994/ Source: Youtube- DisneyMusicVEVO
- Sarah & Tyler