The Lion Pays Tonight

The heirs of a Zulu musician who wrote the song known as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” have settled a suit with an American music publisher for past and future compensation.

The 1939 song was written by Solomon Linda in a South African township.

The South African government announced the agreement between Linda’s heirs and Abilene Music, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Financial terms weren’t disclosed, but “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – originally called “Mbube” (“lion” in Zulu) – became a hit throughout South Africa and the world, including more than 150 covers by artists including folk icons The Weavers (“Wimoweh”) and doo-wop group The Tokens.

It was used in Disney’s “The Lion King,” and has earned the company more than $15 million worldwide, according to the CBC.

“We’re happy to announce that a global agreement has been reached between the heirs of Solomon Linda and the company responsible [for the song’s copyright],” South Africa’s ministry of culture said in a statement quoted by the CBC.

“The heirs of Solomon Linda will receive compensation [that takes into account] past and future use of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Linda and his wife sold the song to a local company in 1939 and he died in poverty in 1962. His three surviving daughters and 10 granddaughters also reportedly live in poverty in Johannesburg’s Soweto township.

Lawyers told the CBC the only payment the family received was a one-time lump sum of $15,000 for the song.

The Linda’s battle for compensation for the tune made international headlines in 2004 when the family won a court order to attach more than 240 Disney trademarks in South Africa – including images of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck – in order to establish jurisdiction in the case.