The Tragic Truth Behind “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
On December 18, 1961, the doo-wop group The Tokens hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts with their unforgettable rendition of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” The song would go on to become one of the most iconic and profitable pop records in music history — but behind its catchy melody and whimsical lyrics lies a story of cultural appropriation, injustice, and a long-overdue reckoning.
A Song Born in Africa
The roots of this global hit go back to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1939, when Solomon Linda, a Zulu migrant worker and member of the group The Evening Birds, stepped into South Africa’s first recording studio. There, he recorded a haunting and powerful song titled “Mbube” (meaning “lion” in Zulu). The song’s raw energy and unique sound captured the imagination of local audiences and made Linda a household name — in South Africa.
But Solomon Linda never reaped the rewards of the global success his creation would eventually achieve.
From Mbube to Wimoweh
A decade later, a copy of the Mbube recording found its way to New York City, where it landed in the hands of American folk music archivist Alan Lomax. Without understanding the Zulu lyrics, Lomax passed it on to folk legend Pete Seeger, who misheard the core chant “Uyimbube” and transcribed it phonetically as “Wimoweh.”
Seeger’s group, The Weavers, recorded their own version in 1952, calling it “Wimoweh.” It introduced Western audiences to Linda’s melody — albeit stripped of context and credit. The song gained traction, but this version was still just a stepping stone.
The Tokens and Global Fame
In 1961, producers reworked the song once again. This time, they commissioned English lyrics and handed the song to The Tokens, who recorded “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Their version became a massive hit — and has since been covered and licensed endlessly, most notably in Disney’s The Lion King, commercials, and films around the world.
While the song generated millions of dollars in royalties, the man who created it received virtually nothing.
The Injustice
Solomon Linda, whose song inspired a global phenomenon, was treated as a footnote. During his lifetime, he received only a one-time payment — reportedly less than $1,000. His song was wrongly considered public domain by many U.S. publishers, which allowed them to exploit it without compensating Linda or his family.
It wasn’t until the early 2000s, when a South African journalist began investigating the song’s origins, that the injustice began to gain international attention. In 2006, following public pressure and legal efforts, an undisclosed settlement was finally reached between Linda’s heirs and the music publishers profiting from the song.
The Legacy Today
Today, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” remains a beloved classic — but its story serves as a sobering reminder of how Black artists, particularly from Africa, have often been erased from the music industry’s success stories.
If you’ve ever sung along to its hypnotic chorus, consider going back to listen to the original: “Mbube” by Solomon Linda. It’s raw, powerful, and unlike anything you’ve heard — a voice echoing through time that deserves to be remembered.
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