Hi Everyone,

Firstly, I would like to thank each one of you for all the support you have shown with this petition.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THIS PETITION AND SHARE IT.

Today, I will be talking about Solomon Popoli Linda. I will show you why this fight is so important and why you should always be proud of doing the right thing morally and ethically.

Many of you may have faced a lot of backlash for supporting this petition just as I have in the last month. Dishearteningly, this has included racial abuse on my social media accounts.

It’s very easy for people who don't have factual information to comment negatively, especially if they are the benefactors of appropriation. They dare tell the aggrieved side that they are wrong for voicing their displeasure. If these people have not lived the same experiences that the Swahili/African people have gone through, they cannot and should not decide if the Swahili/African should be offended.

Solomon Popoli Linda
Solomon Popoli Linda was a South African musician, singer and composer. Best known as the composer of the song "Mbube,” which later became the popular music success, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," which was famously used in the Lion King creation.

Solomon died in 1962 with only $25 to his name. His widow couldn’t afford a headstone for his grave. Solomon's three daughters grew up and lived in poverty in Soweto. Disney in September 2004, lost a bid to set aside the lawsuit by the Linda family. The case was resumed with the Linda family getting an out of court settlement in 2006 as well as Linda’s rightful acknowledgement as a co-composer.

The song in part or whole was also used in: 160 recordings of three versions! Thirteen movies! Half a dozen TV commercials and a hit play. Many lawyers have estimated that his royalties would amount between $10 – $20 Million USD.

Sources
Brand South Africa
https://www.brandsouthafrica.com/south-africa-fast-facts/arts-facts/mbube-210206
Aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/02/2008491335677676.html

If this isn't cultural appropriation, I don't know what it is. As I have previously said, I love Disney. I grew up watching Disney classics. I don't believe that Disney did this on purpose. I would love for Disney to come forward and work on rectifying this situation. This is an opportunity for them to show that they are not only a world renouned entertainment corporation but also a protector of minority cultures.

In closing a quote by Martin Niemöller a German priest that lived during World War II

"First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."