NEWS BULLETIN

The New York Times
March 22, 2006
Johannesburg, South Africa

A lawsuit was filed in 2004 by the family of Solomon Linda seeking damages for the copyright of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."  Mr. Linda had written and recorded the song in 1939 under the name "Mbube," which is Zulu for "The Lion." In 1952 he sold the copyright of "Mbube" to Gallo Studios, the company that produced his record, for 10 shillings (about 87 cents today).  He also got a job sweeping floors and serving tea in the company's packing house.   Born in 1909 in the Zulu heartland of Africa, Mr. Linda never learned to read or write, but he knew music and had the ability of writing lyrics.  He died in 1962 at the age of 53, with $22.00 in the bank.  His wife could not afford a gravestone.

Over the years, more than 150 artists have recorded the song under the name, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."  The song has survived many versions; a jazz version, nightclub version, folk version, pop version, and finally a 1994 Walt Disney hit movie under the name "The Lion King."  Mr. Linda and his family should have enjoyed a very comfortable life, but instead, the family lived in Soweto with barely a stick of furniture, sleeping on a dirt floor carpeted with cow dung.  His eight children survived on maize porridge, known as pap.  When they passed a grade in school, their reward was an egg.  Two died as babies, one of malnutrition. 

Solomon Linda's daughter, Ms. Nsele contends the family was hoodwinked by a South African lawyer, now deceased.  They have won their law suit, and Ms.Nsele commented,, " I was angry before.  They didn't ask permission.  They just decided to do anything they wanted with my father's song.  But now it seems we must forgive because they have come to their senses and realized they have made a mistake.  The Bible says you must try to forgive."  Her daughter Zandile corrected her by saying, "Not 'try'.  It says 'forgive.'"

In February of 2006 an undisclosed settlement was reached between Linda's heirs and Abilene Music, who held the worldwide rights.  The heirs received payment for past uses of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and an entitlement to future royalties from its worldwide use.  A trust has been set up to administer the heirs' copyright of the song.

Excerpts from the article written by Sharon LaFraniere

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