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"In the village, the peaceful village, the lion sleeps tonight, in the village, the quiet village, the lion sleeps tonight." -- Written by Solomon Linda, Zulu native, performed by Pete Seeger and the Weavers.
"Wimoweh" is a song based on a boyhood spent herding cattle in lion country, reflecting on the peacefulness of those nights without lions roaring in the distance. On nights with low humidity and light wind, a lion's roar can carry up to five miles. The lion's roar can be separated into three primary messages -- defending the territory, mating, or hunting. It is a chilling sound to be sure, for someone alone and responsible for protecting the family's livestock.
It is a song remembered for its chorus, sung in a Zulu call and response tradition. Vocalizing and echoing a single word "Wimoweh" in varying pitch and rhythm gives people a sense of the mysteries in an African night. Wimoweh is actually a mispronunciation of the Zulu word "Uymbube" in the original version, meaning "you are a lion."
Lions are apex predators, at the top of the food chain and fearless. The encroachment of human activity in lion country has limited the lion's access to habitat and the native populations of prey, such as gazelles, wildebeest, and zebras. Food insecurity will drive the lions to find alternative sources, such as the two-legged, soft-fleshed prey that is easy to catch. Lions can become man-eaters. The Field Museum in Chicago has two male lions on display that allegedly killed 135 construction workers in the Tsavo region of Kenya in 1898.
The intensity with which they hunt underlies the attributes of strength, courage, fidelity, and vital action, that has earned them the respect of being called the "King of Beasts." Evidence of humankind's use of the lion as a symbol has been found on the walls of the Chauvet-Pont d'Arc cave in southeastern France, painted in the Paleolithic period 36,000 years ago. The use of the lion as symbol continues from then through the present, in mythology, spirituality, royalty, heraldry, ancestry, sorority, and fraternity.
Our community has a group of men and women that strive to be lionlike in serving their community. Their dedication is symbolized by the animal, but defined by the principles of liberty, intelligence, and our nation's safety, L.I.O.N.S. The Alpena Lions Club is a chapter of Lions Club International, a service club with 1.4 million members in 48,000 clubs, active in 200 countries. The organizations motto is simply, "We Serve."
The Alpena Lions Club identifies the issues that are important to the community and establishes priorities through weekly meetings. Funds are raised through sales of the Old Newsboys News, White Cane Sale, mints, and bags of potatoes. Volunteering is important to the club and willing hands are available. On May 20 the Alpena Lions Club will host a bowling event to support efforts in the community that are focused on hunger.
To borrow a line from Tony the Tiger, the Alpena Lions Club "They're Great!"
"We are about the community, community first, no matter where you are at, India, Africa, or Nebraska, we want to get things done." -- Brian Sheehan, Lions Club International.
Tom Brindley grew up in Iowa, and studied journalism and accounting. He is a retired controller from Alpena Community College and has been active in local nonprofit organizations. He can be reached at bindletom@hotmail.com. Read him here the first Thursday of each month.