Just wanted to bring this to the front page. Rian Malan, a South African writer, told Solomon Linda's story in Rolling Stone in May, 2000. This link is to a reprint of the story. It's worth reading. http://www.3rdearmusic.com/forum/mbube2.html. It's the same link as "another source" above.

Linda's family sued Disney in 2004 for their using the song in The Lion King, Apparently, tho' Disney was fighting the suit, there has been some movement toward settlement, resulting in cash payments to Linda's family. Linda died in 1962. I'm still looking for some verification of this. Anyone?

I used to enjoy this song, but then I heard the story about Solomon Linda, the South African man who first recorded it as 'Mbube' in 1939. Because of his race, he was ineligible to receive royalties from the original recording and is said to have been paid only ten shillings for a record that sold 100,000 copies in SA. Additionally, the hundreds of western recordings and derivatives of his song have all been made without any compensation to Linda or his surviving family. His family recently went to the courts seeking royalties, but I don't know how successful they have been. Here's a little timeline of the song. And from another source, how Pete Seeger brought Mbube to American listeners: This song now leaves me feeling conflicted. I am glad to get the chance to hear this great music, but very sad for the man it was stolen from.

Good call Bill!

I am sitting here reading dire economic consequences that we seem to be unable to escape, and for some reason this really fits.

The lion is the free market.
The jungle is the myriad of crap out there hold the free market.

We are boned...

What a surprise!! What a NICE surprise!!

Super-cheesy, super-fun :o). You must also see a short animation of a hippo singing this song.  An easy 7 from the Nottingham jury.

Well that got a reaction from everyone in the room...

What a surprise!! What a NICE surprise!!

love the sweaters!