Solomon Linda

Solomon Linda was a South African singer and songwriter who composed and recorded “Mbube” in 1939. The song later became the basis for “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Mbube: A 1939 song recorded by Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds, known for its distinctive vocal refrain. Linda composed and led the original recording that began the song’s global journey.
The Evening Birds: A South African vocal group led by Solomon Linda, known for its 1939 recording of “Mbube.” Linda recorded his best-known song with this group.
Copyright: A legal framework granting creators exclusive rights over specified uses of their works for a limited period. Copyright rules shaped who could authorize adaptations of “Mbube” and claim its income.
South African music: The diverse musical traditions and practices developed in South Africa across its communities and history. Linda’s career belongs to a musical landscape that shaped “Mbube” and its vocal style.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight: An English-language song adapted from “Mbube,” popularized internationally by the Tokens in 1961. Its success made Linda’s melody widely known while obscuring the original song’s history.
Gallo Record Company: A South African record company that recorded and released music by Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds. Its Johannesburg studio captured the recording that made “Mbube” a hit.
Music publishing: The business of administering and licensing rights in musical compositions and collecting related royalties. Publishing arrangements determined how income from adaptations of Linda’s melody was handled.
Isicathamiya: A South African a cappella singing tradition associated with close harmonies, soft steps, and male vocal groups. The Evening Birds’ performance drew on the vocal world in which this tradition developed.
The Weavers: An American folk quartet whose 1951 recording of “Wimoweh” adapted the song “Mbube.” Their version introduced Linda’s melody to a broad American audience.
Alan Lomax: An American folklorist and music collector who helped circulate recordings of traditional and popular music. His collection included the Weavers’ “Wimoweh,” helping preserve one link in the song’s transmission.

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