Hakuna Matata™: Kenyan Band ‘Them Mushrooms’ Speak Up

Kenyan band ‘Them Mushrooms’ have added their voice to the worldwide debate on Walt Disney Company “owning” popular Swahili phrase “Hakuna Matata”.

Anonline petition urging Disney to drop its trademark on the phrase has since attracted more than 120,000 signatures. The petition states that the phrase has long been used by Swahili speakers in several African countries such as Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and more, so Disney “can’t be allowed to trademark something that it didn’t invent.”

In the center of it all is the Kenyan band – Them Mushrooms – who were the first to feature “hakuna matata” in their popular song “Jambo Bwana (Hello Mister)” back in 1982.

The Band believes that there is a probable infringement in the trademark and have called out Disney.

In a statement, a member of Mushrooms said: “We believe that there is a probable infringement on copyright in regards to the phrase ‘Hakuna Matata’, which forms the chorus to our song ‘Kenya Hakuna Matata’ a.k.a. ‘Jambo Bwana’ or simply ‘Hakuna Matata’.”

Adding: “We feel that this whole matter needs to be handled by an IP lawyer who is an expert in copyright law.”

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