By Rex Mphisa
IN 1939, Solomon Linda, a South African artist, composed and recorded the song, “Mbube” (Zulu for “lion”), in Johannesburg, and some 87 years later, Beitbridge is living that song.
Close to 600 kilometres away from Johannesburg, then Linda’s base, real lions are sleeping in the outskirts of Beitbridge.
Just like how Linda’s song was redone by many other artists at home and abroad, talk of the lions, lurking few kilometres from the bustling and hustling town of Beitbridge has spread across the district and the world over.
Black Mambazo, Miriam Makeba and many other artists at home in South Africa later did Linda’s song later done internationally by the likes of Paul Simon and Eric Donaldson took to stage with the song.
It became a world hit.
In similar fashion villagers across Beitbridge talk, sing and chant the lion which with another escaped from the Kruger National Park and crossed the Limpopo River into Beitbridge.
The true lyrics and meaning of Linda’s song likely centred around keeping lions away from cattle herds, something he composer did as a young man.
But there is speculation the song and lyrics have more to do with the oppression of the Zulu people, who would one day wake up and not be defeated by British rule.
In real life Beitbridge hopes one day the lion that has caused sleepless nights will be found and taken care of just as much as Linda believed oppressors of his land would be defeated.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife spokesman Tami Mudzingwa did not respond to calls or questions for the whole week.
But at Beitbridge officials have tried everything in the book to capture the elusive lions one with three cubs and believed more dangerous.
On Friday a South African professional hunter, one of the many roped in to try and capture the large cat, said coordinates sent while it is moving make it difficult to spot it.
The hunter hoped its afternoon position would be sent when it would be resting.
“In the afternoon lions do not move and then we can find it,” said the hunter.
In the last two weeks there has been a hive of activity to account for the lions which to date have not posed any threat to human lives.
Thickets resulting from heavy rains that fell in Beitbridge this year have assisted the lions get cover.
Parks and Wildlife rangers last week spotted one lion but lost it when it was close to Mawale Hills but lost it to the setting sun which gave it perfect good cover.
As the hunt goes on Linda’s song plays on.
He recorded the masterpiece with his group, the Evening Birds, for the Gallo Record Company, it became a massive local hit before later being adapted into the famous 1961 version, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”.
The true lyrics and meaning likely centered around keeping lions away from cattle herds, something Linda did as a young man.
Others speculate that the song and lyrics have more to do with the oppression of the Zulu people, who would one day wake up and not be defeated by British rule.
Regardless of the true meaning of The Lion Sleeps Tonight, the song provides a sense of peace and tranquillity for many