1. Solomon Popoli Linda OIG, known as Solomon Ntsele, was a South African musician, singer and composer best known as the composer of the song "Mbube", which later became the pop music success "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", and gave its name to the Mbube style of isicathamiya a cappella later popularized by Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Solomon Popoli Linda was born near Pomeroy, on the labor reserve Msinga, Umzinyathi District Municipality in Ladysmith in Natal, where he was familiar with the traditions of amahubo and izingoma zomshado music.
Solomon Linda attended the Gordon Memorial mission school, where he learned about Western musical culture, hymns, and participated in choir contests.
Solomon Linda worked in the Mayi Mayi Furniture Shop on Small Street and sang in a choir known as the Evening Birds, managed by his uncles, Solomon and Amon Madondo, and which disbanded in 1933.
Solomon Linda found employment at Johannesburg's Carlton Hotel and started a new group that retained the Evening Birds name.
In 1939, while recording a number of songs in the studio, Solomon Linda improvised the song "Mbube".
Unknowingly, Solomon Linda sold the rights to Gallo Record Company for 10 shillings soon after the recording was made.
Solomon Linda is credited with a number of musical innovations that came to dominate the isicathamiya style.
Solomon Linda introduced the falsetto main voice, which incorporated female vocal texture into male singing.
Solomon Linda's group was the first known to use striped suits to indicate that they were urban sophisticates.
Solomon Linda's family suspected that he was bewitched by his musical rivals.
Solomon Linda was accompanied by his vocal group, The Evening Birds.