Christmas Post!

So it's been a nice Jewish Christmas here for me, and a real Christmas for Rob. New posts to follow from both of us shortly.

In the interim, enjoy these links about the origin of the pop song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight/ Wimoweh," popularized first by Pete Seeger and later, the Tokens, but originally recorded by South African folk musician Solomon Linda in 1939.

First, an article by Rian Malan published in Rolling Stone in 2001, reprinted in The Best American Magazine Writing - 2001. This covers the origin story and makes the persuasive point that Linda and his family were pretty solidly screwed out of millions. (ed. note: the article unnecessarily maligns Seeger).

Next, the satisfying (but less well-written) conclusion to this saga: The Linda family gets a settlement after suing the Walt Disney Co. in a round-about way.

And finally... the original recording:


Um, People Power! Merry Christmas.