Soul Power (2008)

Directed by

Jeff Levy-Hinte

Genre

documentary film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 33m

Rated

PG

Rating

6.5 of 10 from 17 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This documentary features archival footage of the Zaire 74 music festival in Kinshasa. The festival was meant to accompany the Rumble in the Jungle boxing match but happened on its own after the fight was delayed. Many famous musicians perform, including James Brown, B.B. King, and Miriam Makeba.

archivalnostalgicupbeatlivelywarmhistoricelectrifyingcelebratory

What happens

Soul Power is a 2008 documentary film directed by Jeff Levy-Hinte about the Zaire 74 music festival that took place in Kinshasa, Zaire, in September 1974. Although it was planned to accompany the Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, the festival went ahead as scheduled when the fight was delayed by 6 weeks after Foreman sustained an injury during training. The film was made from archival footage; other footage shot at the time focusing on the fight was edited to form the 1996 film When We Were Kings. Performers in the film include James Brown ("Soul Power"), The Spinners ("One of a Kind"), OK Jazz featuring Franco ("Simba Nkoni"j, Bill Withers ("Hope She'll Be Happier"), Miriam Makeba ("Qongqothwane" a.k.a. "The Click Song"), B.B. King ("The Thrill Is Gone"), Pembe Dance Troupe, The Crusaders ("Put It Where You Want It"), Fania All-Stars featuring Celia Cruz, Danny "Big Black" Rey, Afrisa featuring Tabu Ley Rochereau ("Seli-Ja"), The J.B.'s ("Cold Sweat") and Manu Dibango. The DVD includes bonus tracks by James Brown ("Try Me"), Sister Sledge ("On and On"), and Abeti, and an additional folk dance performance by Pembe Dance Troupe ("Stilts and Bells"). Footage was shot by a variety of camera operators, including Albert Maysles. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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