Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds

South African Zulu a cappella group, Johannesburg · recorded for Gallo Record Company

A sharply dressed Johannesburg vocal group — Solomon Linda singing soprano above Gilbert Madondo, Boy Sibiya and a bass trio — who worked the competitive choir circuit and recorded for Gallo, where Linda had a day job as a record packer. Their “Mbube” was captured in 1939 without rehearsal and went on to sell over 100,000 copies in Africa across the following nine years. The Zulu word gave its name to an entire vocal genre. It is the record every later version descends from.

Who recorded it

Songs Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds recorded first

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Recorded it first — now often credited to The Tokens

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