description Soul Power Overview
Soul Power is a 2008 documentary film directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte that chronicles the Zaire 74 music festival. Held in Kinshasa in September 1974, the three-day concert was organized alongside the famous heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman known as the Rumble in the Jungle. The film features restored performances by iconic musicians such as James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, and Stevie Wonder.
It also captures the logistical challenges and cultural significance of the massive event.
help Soul Power FAQ
What was the Zaire 74 festival shown in Soul Power?
Zaire 74 was a music festival held in Kinshasa in September 1974, featuring major African and African American performers. It was organized in connection with the Muhammad Ali and George Foreman heavyweight fight later called the Rumble in the Jungle.
Which musicians appear in Soul Power?
The film features performers including James Brown, B.B. King, Bill Withers, Miriam Makeba and Celia Cruz with the Fania All-Stars. Their appearances make the documentary both a concert record and a portrait of cross-Atlantic Black music in 1974.
Why was the Zaire 74 footage released decades after the festival?
The footage came from the same large documentary project that produced When We Were Kings, but much of the music material remained unused for years. Director Jeff Levy-Hinte assembled it into Soul Power, released in 2008.
Does Soul Power show the Ali-Foreman fight itself?
The film concentrates on the festival, its performers and preparations in Kinshasa rather than presenting the boxing match as its centerpiece. For a fight-focused account, the related documentary When We Were Kings provides more extensive Ali and Foreman material.
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