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Top 10 Sensational Facts about Solomon Linda

Solomon Linda’s full name is Solomon Popoli Linda. She is a popular musician, singer, and composer. He is popularly known as Solomon Ntsele and his name Linda was his clan name. He was born in 1909 in Pomeroy, Colony of Natal, and became very popular as a composer for the song “Mbube”.

During his teenage life, he attended the Gordon Memorial mission school where he learned hymns, and Western musical culture and also participated in choir contests. After school, he left for Johannesburg as most young African men did in search of Menial work.

During that era, several gold mines in town were in great demand for cheap labor. Later on, he sang in the choir, Evening Birds which was managed by Solomon and Amon Madondo who were his uncles.

Solomon Linda also worked on a small street in the Mayi Mayi furniture shop. He was however diagnosed with kidney failure after he collapsed on stage during a performance.

Solomon Linda died on 8^th September 1962 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, the Republic of South Africa at the age of 53.

Below are the top ten sensational facts about Solomon Linda

1. Solomon Linda Found his Passion in Music at a Young Age

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Solomon Linda found his passion in music at a very tender age as he attended the Gordon Memorial mission school. He was born near Pomeroy, Umzinyathi District Municipality in Ladysmith Natal.

There he became very familiar with the traditional wedding songs that fascinated him. Some of the traditional music included izingoma zomshado and amahubo. While in the mission school, he learned the Western hymns, and musical culture and also participated in choir contests.

2. He worked in a Furniture Shop on a Small Street

Solomon Linda left for Johannesburg in 1931, after he had completed his education in the Gordon Memorial mission school. It was a norm for the young people to leave to the towns in search of menial work.

During that period, there were several sprawling gold mining that was in great demand but offered cheap labor.

Solomon Linda managed to secure himself a job at the Mayi Mayi furniture shop which was located in a small town. While in that town he sang in the Evening Birds which was a choir managed by his two uncles, Solomon and Amon Madondo.

3. Solomon Linda Started a Group that Retained the Name 鈥� The Evening Birds鈥�

Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds. Author is unknown. Wikimedia Commons

Solomon Linda began a new group that retained the name 鈥渢he Evening Birds鈥� after he found employment at Johannesburg鈥檚 Carlton Hotel. The group was comprised of Gilbert Madondo (alto), Boy Sibiya (tenor), Solomon Linda (soprano), and Owen Sikhakhane (base).

All of them were Solomon Linda鈥檚 friends who came from Pomeroy. The group began by performing at the wedding and ended up in choir competitions. He became very popular after the presentations that he made in the Evening Birds.

4. Solomon Linda Improvised the Song 鈥淢bube鈥� (Lion)

Solomon Linda improved the song Mbube (Lion) while he was recording several songs in the studio in 1939. The studio was owned by an Italian immigrant known as Eric Gallo and was the only recording studio in Sub-Sahara Africa.

The song was a major success for Solomon Linda and the Evening Bird’s team. Solomon Linda sold about 100,000 copies in South Africa by 1949.

The recording took place in Gallo’s studio but Solomon Linda, however, sold the rights to Gallo Record Company for 10 shillings.

5. He Came to be Known for a Variety of Musical Innovations

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Solomon Linda later came to be known for his musical innovations after they separated in 1948 and the Evening Birds was disbanded. After the disbandment of the group, Solomon married Regina and as he raised his family, he continued with his musical career. His musical innovations came to dominate the isicathamiya style.

6. His Musical Career Began very Humbly

Solomon Linda’s musical career began very humbly at the Gordon Memorial mission school where he learned the Western musical culture.

His career began as he was working in a hotel after forming a singing group that sang in wedding ceremonies. He however did not have any godfather who would support his musical journey.

7. Solomon Linda had a Unique Style of Singing

Solomon had a very unique style of singing where instead of using one singer in a voice part, he used several bass singers. In his singing, he introduced the falsetto which was a mixture of the female vocal texture and male singing.

His group is considered the first to ever use the striped suit which was a sign of urban sophistication.

8. His Music Expressed Political Dissent

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Some of the music that Solomon Linda composed was interpreted as expressing some political dissent.

One of his songs “Yethulisgqoko” means ‘Take off Your Hat’ as a result of the harsh treatment by Pass Officials. The end of the song also contains the words “Sikhalela izwe lakithi” which means ‘We cry for the country.

9. His Descendants Sued the Walt Disney Company

Solomon Linda’s descendants in conjunction with the South African government and Gallo Records sued the Walt Disney Company. This resulted after the company used The Lion King movie and the stage musical without paying some royalties to the family.

The story about the lawsuit and Disney about the settlement are told in the Netflix documentary, The Lion’s Share.

10. Solomon Linda was Diagnosed with Kidney Failure

Solomon Linda collapsed as he was performing in 1959 and was later diagnosed with kidney failure. His family believed that he might have been bewitched by his musical rivals. He however died in the following year of kidney failure. It was also 18 years later that a tombstone was constructed at his gravesite.

Solomon Linda was a very popular musician, singer, and composer who achieved great success in his career. He was known for his unique style of singing with several bass singers. He however died as a result of kidney failure and his family claimed that he was bewitched by his musical rivals.