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Mbube

2 stages from Zulu to English.

Today it means a style of energetic Zulu a cappella singing, later the basis for the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"

Where does the word "mbube" come from? It comes from Zulu imbube, adopted directly into English (1939).

1
Stage 1 of 2
imbube
Zulu · ancient
"lion"
an everyday Zulu word for the animal
2
Stage 2 of 2
mbube
English · 1939
"a powerful, energetic style of Zulu a cappella singing"
named after Solomon Linda's 1939 recording "Mbube," later reworked as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
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