Soul Power
Soul Power
In 1974, American R&B and soul groups shared a stage with some of Africa’s greatest musical talent for the first time during a three-night long concert held in Zaire’s capital of Kinshasa. The brainchild of South African musician Hugh Masekela and American promoter Stewart Levine, the Zaire ‘74 festival became a reality when the duo convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with the “Rumble in the Jungle” match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Soul Power captures the lead up to the concert and documents the bristling energy of its stellar performers such as James Brown, Bill Withers, Miriam Makeba, and the Fania All Stars.
DIRECTED BY: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte. WITH: James Brown, Hugh Masekela, Stewart Levine, Muhammad Ali. 2008. 93 min. USA. Color. English. Rated PG-13. 35mm.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
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