Hakuna matata

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This article is about the Swahili phrase. For other uses, see Hakuna Matata (disambiguation).

"Hakuna matata" (pronounced [hɑˈkunɑ mɑˈtɑtɑ]) is a Swahili language phrase from East Africa
meaning "no worries". The word "hakuna" means "there is not here" while "matata" means
"problems". The phrase was popularized by the Disney animated film The Lion King (in which it is
translated as "no worries" in a song named after the phrase), so that it is heard often at resorts,
hotels, and other places appealing to the tourist trade.

In 2018, Disney trademarked the phrase in the US[1] causing controversy in East Africa.[2]

Contents

 1 Jambo Bwana
 2 Jambo – Hakuna Matata
 3 The Lion King song
 4 See also
 5 References

Jambo Bwana[edit]
In 1982, the music of Kenyan hostel band Them Mushrooms (now known as Uyoga) released the
Swahili song "Jambo Bwana"[3] ("Hello Mister"), which repeats the phrase "Hakuna matata" in its
refrain. The song was written by band leader John Katana.

Jambo – Hakuna Matata[edit]

In 1983, German group Boney M. released "Jambo—Hakuna Matata", an English-language
version of Them Mushrooms song Jambo Bwana. Liz Mitchell provided the song's lead vocals,
backed by Reggie Tsiboe, Frank Farian, Cathy Bartney, Madeleine Davis and Judy Cheeks. The
single was intended to be included in the group's untitled seventh album, to be released in the
fall of 1983. Due to a poor chart performance (No. 48 in the German charts), the single ultimately
was not included in the album (which was completely reworked and not released until May 1984
as Ten Thousand Lightyears).
The Lion King song[edit]
Main article: Hakuna Matata (song)

In 1994 the Walt Disney Animation Studios animated movie The Lion King brought the phrase
international recognition, featuring it prominently in the plot and devoting a song to it. A meerkat
and a warthog, Timon and Pumbaa, teach Simba that he should forget his troubled past and live
in the present. The song was written by Elton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics), who found the
term in a Swahili phrasebook.[4] It was nominated for Best Original Song at the 1995 Academy
Awards, and was later ranked the 99th best song in movie history by the American Film Institute
on a list of 100.[5]