Hakuna Matata
Hakuna Matata
Meaning
- no trouble, no worries, or no problem.
- don’t worry; there are no problems.
- you have nothing to worry about.
- everything is okay.
- take it easy.
Example Sentences
- Ever since I embraced a hakuna matata mindset, my life has been easier.
- United States is a peaceful country. Hakuna matata.
- Don’t worry so much about the future, hakuna matata.
- Hakuna matata! Welcome inside, and feel at home.
- Whenever you’re feeling stressed, always whisper to your mind, hakuna matata!
Origin
Most people associate the phrase “hakuna matata” with the 1994 Lion King movie. But the origin of this idiom goes way back. “Hakuna Matata” was originally coined by the Swahili-speaking communities of East Africa, based on the Ubuntu philosophy. It was and is still used to define “there is no problem.”
The expression was popularized by a Kenyan band known as Them Mushrooms in a song titled Jambo Bwana. This hit, which was released in 1982, targeted tourists who were visiting the area. And the theme of the song was to welcome visitors to their countries. The “hakuna matata” phrase was part of their chorus. This song found its way into the international arena when the German group Boney M. did an English version of it in 1983.
A major controversy occurred when Disney received trademark protection for it in 2003, prohibiting the use of the phrase on articles of footwear and apparel. The trademark sparked debate in East Africa before the 2019 Lion King remake, where Disney faced allegations of cultural appropriation. A petition requesting Disney to renounce the trademark has received more than 282,000 signatures on Change.org.
Unlike many idioms, the “hakuna matata” expression is pretty old and it has withstood the test of time. Today, many English speakers continue to use it to reference “no worries”.
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