We're taking a week to look at old African songs that became popular outside the continent. This time it's "Mbube," by Solomon Linda. Later reworked as "Wiwmoweh" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."
Thanks for recommending this. I just watched it and it seems to me that Solomon Linda's family were done massively wrong by the lawyers and trustees.
The documentary suggests racism was behind it, but it's also sexism and the educational and power differences. The sisters asked for an accounting and they one hundred percent were legally entitiled to one and should have received one.
As someone who worked in Africa and other countries dealing with business at the community level, I can also say that it's total nonsense that finance concepts and terms cannot be translated into local languages. We even translated them for illiterate people.
Many musicians and their estates in the US have also been taken advantage of like this by unscrupulous record labels, managers, and lawyers. It makes my blood boil to see this happen to them, especially people who are poor and need the money. Sorry to vent, as I did value seeing it and learning the story behind the song.
Yes it is such a common story through the years, and today. Fight the power!
Ellen I recommend all of the ReMastered episodes - the kind of music documentary series I do not think Netflix would do now unfortunately that the platform has become mostly about sillier distractions.
Have you seen this ReMastered episode about Solomon Linda and the song?
https://www.netflix.com/title/80191050
Thanks for recommending this. I just watched it and it seems to me that Solomon Linda's family were done massively wrong by the lawyers and trustees.
The documentary suggests racism was behind it, but it's also sexism and the educational and power differences. The sisters asked for an accounting and they one hundred percent were legally entitiled to one and should have received one.
As someone who worked in Africa and other countries dealing with business at the community level, I can also say that it's total nonsense that finance concepts and terms cannot be translated into local languages. We even translated them for illiterate people.
Many musicians and their estates in the US have also been taken advantage of like this by unscrupulous record labels, managers, and lawyers. It makes my blood boil to see this happen to them, especially people who are poor and need the money. Sorry to vent, as I did value seeing it and learning the story behind the song.
Yes it is such a common story through the years, and today. Fight the power!
Ellen I recommend all of the ReMastered episodes - the kind of music documentary series I do not think Netflix would do now unfortunately that the platform has become mostly about sillier distractions.
Thanks so much for that advice. I have Netflix and will watch them.
I have not seen it and meant to mention it but it slipped my mind. Thanks. :)
Check it out if you have Netflix.
Really interesting article (couldn't access the 2nd one).
Try this. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lion-sleeps-tonight-lion-king-update-879663/
Thanks!