In my earlier blog post, I wrote about the idea of creating a piece that intrigues the viewer and get them thinking to the extent where they want more. By using an array of writing and film techniques, I believe true stories have the capacity of leaving an audience speechless – an unbelievable account that leaves us gasping. Recently, I had read the story of Solomon Linda titled “In the Jungle by Rian Malan; a Zulu tribesman who wrote one of Africa’s and the world’s biggest songs that has stood the test of time and been apart of countless generations. He’s song “In the Jungle” is undoubtedly one of the biggest hits of the 20th century as each era has witnessed someone re-generate the song making it as one of there own. Before I read the piece, I immediately remembered the song (from The Lion King) yet like many, I never knew the backdrop to the account – the story within the story that is truly remarkable. The song, which was written in 1939 in the only recording studio in Africa, became an instant hit in Western Europe and eventually reached the shores of America “where it mutated into a truly immortal pop epiphany that soared to the top of the charts here and than everywhere, returning every decade under different names and guises”.
At this point, Malan gives a brief history of the song and how it became a success around the globe. However, just like the initial sentence at the top of the piece, Malan drops a bombshell for his audience describes the plight of Linda where “where a melody that earned untold millions for white men but died so poor that his wife couldn’t afford a stone for his grave”. This sentence leaves us stunned at the fact that a man who’s name will be sketched in the history books merely became another dead soul who died so poor leaving his family with nothing. Malan’s intro leaves us including me, wanting more from this incredible story – a trait that I wish to indulge on whilst in this class.
Part 1 of the piece dives into how the song was made and what transpired after the recording in Africa that led the tune to cross through Europe and turn towards America. All in all, around 160 recordings of three different versions, thirteen movies, six TV commercials and a hit play, number 7 on Val Pak’s semi-authoritative ranking of the most beloved golden oldies, and ceaseless radio air-play on every corner of the planet. Having said that, a net worth profit of $15 million and not a single penny was given to Linda and his family.
This story of music royalties and associated revenues was somehow deliberately or mistakenly left out for Solomon Linda where hundreds made millions off the song and the founder was left with nothing. An account like this goes to the point of incredible if not unbelievable. A story within a story within a story, Malan’s piece touched on the historical line this song endured and the life that Solomon Linda should have had as soon as the song was released in 1939. Malan leaves his audience perplexed by this thought, and to his credit, he successfully shows how one man was cheated from a life he should have had – prosperous and fulfilling for a man who gave so much yet was given very little.