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 . 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
1995 Academy Awards
67th Academy Awards
Hakuna matata