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by Owen H. Dean (Author)
A court case, haled and feted world-wide as a remarkable success and achievement, blessed an indigent family in South Africa with considerable wealth. The case enabled them to benefit financially from the creativity and talent of their deceased father, Solomon Linda (portrayed along with his group The Evening Birds on the cover), despite his having signed away all his rights to a valuable song that he had composed, called Mbube. This song evolved into the international mega hit song, The Lion Sleeps Tonight and made a fortune. But Solomon had cut all his ties to the song. The outcome of the court case gave rise to a poignant 'rag to riches' story that touched the hearts of many. It brought about a fairy tale ending to what was a tragic episode.
This came to pass thanks to the valiant efforts of a team of eminent, highly competent and specialised lawyers who took it upon themselves to risk their reputations and livelihoods in embarking on litigation that was exceedingly complex and arguably tenuous in nature, without any financial backing, in order to pursue what they considered to be a just and honourable cause of social justice. In the process they thought outside the box, executed daring ploys, traversed virgin legal terrain, overcame redoubtable odds and made new law that can benefit others in time to come. They also achieved a remarkable success in furthering the interests of South African culture. In the end, their work did not go unrewarded and they were able to enjoy properly regulated financial compensation for their services.
Happy endings do not always sit well with some. Netflix made a documentary movie about the case, called The Lions Share, in which it is contended that the lawyers purloined a major share of the financial rewards that ought have been due to the Linda family. This claim is without any foundation or substance. The film's perversion of the story of the court case and its aftermath, which aims at sensationalism and controversy, taints the legacy of the court case.
