Like many Belafonte-songs, this one is rooted in Trinidad.
The Monkey was first recorded by calypsonians The Lion, The Tiger & King Radio in 1936. It has been reissued on a Rounder-CD (with lyrics and all) called "Fall Of Man: Calypsos On The Human Condition", highly recommended !
Especially King Radio (real name: Norman Span) was many times covered by Belafonte: Man Smart (Woman Smarter), Matilda and Brown Skin Girl were all his.