In the Jungle

The most famous song ever to come out of South Africa:

And here's the sad story of Solomon Linda, from Rian Malan (pdf file).

Here's maybe the second most famous song to come out of South Africa.

And here's some classic mbaqanga from Mahlathini & The Mahotella Queens.

Comments

[Dom]

Well, you just made me waste a half-hour youtubing "Wemoweh" and "Lion Sleeps". For a good laugh, you really have to hear the Gordon Jenkins version. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has the nicest of the modern versions, I think.

Concerning Solomon Linda, doesn't this often happen? Melodies just move around, and each person adds something to it. Even "This land is your land", always associated with Hank Williams, existed long before him. That puts the folk in folk music.

[Mick H]

I suppose you're right. Until I came across this, I'd always assumed Mbube was a traditional Zulu song.

Wasn't "This land is your land" by Woody Guthrie?

[Dom]

Yes, sorry, it was Woody Guthrie.