ReMastered The Lion s Share ( 2018 )

ReMastered: The Lion's Share (2018) - A Deep Dive

ReMastered: The Lion's Share, released in 2018 as part of Netflix's ReMastered documentary series, delves into the fascinating and complex story behind Solomon Linda's iconic song Mbube, later popularized as The Lion Sleeps Tonight. This documentary isn't just about the song's journey; it's a powerful exploration of cultural appropriation, exploitation of black artists, and the fight for justice and recognition in the music industry. It's a story that resonates deeply with broader themes of systemic inequality and the ongoing struggle for fair compensation and attribution for marginalized creators.

The Origins of Mbube: Solomon Linda and the Evening Birds

The documentary begins by introducing us to Solomon Linda, a Zulu singer and composer from South Africa. In the 1930s, Linda worked as a cleaner at the Gallo Record Company in Johannesburg. During his breaks, he and his acapella group, the Evening Birds, would rehearse and record. In 1939, they recorded Mbube, Zulu for lion, a powerful and evocative song that captured the sounds and spirit of the African bush. Mbube became a local hit in South Africa, achieving considerable success for Gallo Records. Linda was paid a small sum for the recording, a single payment that would have profound and devastating consequences for him and his family.

From Mbube to The Lion Sleeps Tonight: The Whitening of a Song

The story takes a dramatic turn when Alan Lomax, an American ethnomusicologist, heard Mbube during a trip to South Africa in the 1940s. Lomax brought the recording back to the United States and gave it to his friend, Pete Seeger, a folk singer and activist. Seeger, intrigued by the song, transcribed the melody and created his own version, which he titled Wimoweh. Seeger's version retained the distinctive Uyimbube chorus but introduced English lyrics alongside the Zulu phrase. While Seeger initially credited Linda on the record label, this attribution would eventually be erased, paving the way for further exploitation.

The song's journey continued with George David Weiss, a composer and songwriter. Weiss acquired the rights to Wimoweh and wrote new English lyrics, transforming it into The Lion Sleeps Tonight. This version, performed by the Tokens in 1961, became a massive international hit. The Tokens' version completely omitted any mention of Solomon Linda or his original composition. Weiss and the Tokens, along with their record labels, reaped the financial rewards of the song's success, while Linda and his family received nothing.

The Impact on Solomon Linda and His Family

The documentary poignantly portrays the devastating impact of this exploitation on Solomon Linda and his family. While The Lion Sleeps Tonight generated millions of dollars in royalties, Linda lived in poverty and died in 1962, unaware of the song's global success. His family, unaware of the song's history or the potential for royalties, continued to struggle financially. The documentary features interviews with Linda's daughters, who speak movingly about their father and the injustice he suffered. Their stories highlight the human cost of cultural appropriation and the systemic barriers that prevent black artists from receiving fair compensation for their work.

The documentary underscores the profound disparity between the song's popularity and the lack of recognition and financial benefit for its original creator. It asks difficult questions about the ethics of profiting from the work of others, particularly when those others are from marginalized communities and lack the resources to protect their intellectual property.

The Fight for Justice: A Legal Battle for Royalties

ReMastered: The Lion's Share documents the legal battle waged by Linda's daughters to claim royalties from The Lion Sleeps Tonight. The fight was led by South African journalist Rian Malan, who investigated the song's history and brought the story to international attention. Malan's research uncovered compelling evidence of the song's origins and the injustice suffered by Linda's family. He worked tirelessly to connect Linda's daughters with lawyers and navigate the complex legal landscape of copyright law. The legal case faced numerous challenges, including proving the direct link between Mbube and The Lion Sleeps Tonight and overcoming the limitations of international copyright agreements.

The legal team, led by attorney Owen Dean, argued that The Lion Sleeps Tonight was a derivative work of Mbube and that Linda's estate was entitled to a significant portion of the royalties. The case involved complex legal arguments, expert testimony from musicologists, and extensive research into the song's history. The legal battle attracted significant media attention and raised awareness of the issue of cultural appropriation and exploitation in the music industry.

The Settlement and Its Significance

After a lengthy legal battle, a settlement was reached in 2006. Disney, which had acquired significant rights to The Lion Sleeps Tonight through its use in The Lion King, agreed to pay Linda's estate an undisclosed sum and establish a trust fund to benefit Linda's descendants. While the exact terms of the settlement remained confidential, it was widely considered a victory for Linda's family and a significant step towards recognizing the rights of indigenous artists. The settlement also included a provision that Linda would be acknowledged as a co-writer of The Lion Sleeps Tonight on future recordings and performances of the song.

The settlement in the Lion's Share case set a precedent for similar cases involving cultural appropriation and copyright infringement. It demonstrated that indigenous artists and their families could successfully challenge the exploitation of their work and claim their rightful share of the profits generated by their creations. The case also highlighted the importance of historical research, investigative journalism, and legal advocacy in achieving justice for marginalized creators.

Beyond the Legal Victory: A Broader Cultural Impact

The impact of ReMastered: The Lion's Share extends beyond the legal settlement. The documentary has played a significant role in raising awareness of the issue of cultural appropriation and the exploitation of black artists in the music industry. It has sparked conversations about the importance of acknowledging and respecting the origins of creative works and ensuring that indigenous creators receive fair compensation and recognition for their contributions. The documentary has also inspired other artists and activists to fight for justice and protect their intellectual property rights.

The story of Solomon Linda and The Lion Sleeps Tonight serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked capitalism and the systemic inequalities that perpetuate cultural appropriation. It reminds us that the music industry, like many other industries, has a history of exploiting black artists and profiting from their creative work without providing them with adequate compensation or recognition. The documentary encourages viewers to be more critical of the music they consume and to support artists who are committed to fair and ethical practices.

Themes Explored in the Documentary

ReMastered: The Lion's Share explores several key themes that are relevant to contemporary discussions about race, culture, and the music industry:

• Cultural Appropriation: The documentary highlights how Mbube was appropriated and transformed into The Lion Sleeps Tonight without proper attribution or compensation to its original creator.
• Exploitation of Black Artists: The story of Solomon Linda exemplifies the historical exploitation of black artists in the music industry, who have often been denied fair compensation and recognition for their work.
• Copyright Law and Intellectual Property: The legal battle over The Lion Sleeps Tonight underscores the complexities of copyright law and the challenges faced by indigenous artists in protecting their intellectual property rights.
• Justice and Reconciliation: The documentary explores the long and difficult process of seeking justice for Solomon Linda and his family and the importance of acknowledging and rectifying past injustices.
• The Power of Music: Despite the exploitation and legal battles, the documentary celebrates the enduring power of music to transcend cultural boundaries and connect people across the globe.

Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy

ReMastered: The Lion's Share is a compelling and important documentary that sheds light on a dark chapter in the history of the music industry. It tells the story of Solomon Linda, a talented artist whose work was exploited for profit, and the long and difficult fight for justice waged by his family. The documentary serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity, ethical business practices, and the need to protect the rights of marginalized creators. The legacy of Solomon Linda and Mbube continues to resonate today, inspiring artists and activists to fight for a more just and equitable music industry.

The film leaves the viewer contemplating the ethical responsibilities of artists, record labels, and consumers in the globalized music landscape. It serves as a powerful call to action, urging us to be more mindful of the origins of the music we enjoy and to support artists and initiatives that promote fair compensation and recognition for all creators.