1974 unternahm die gesamte US Soul-Elite einen „Betriebsausflug nach Kinshasa, Zaire, um dort im Rahmen des „The Rumble in the Jungle“ Boxkampfs zwischen Muhammad Ali und George Foreman beim Musik-Festival „Zaire „™74“ zusammen mit afrikanischen Top Acts zu rocken.
„Zaire „™74“ (auch „African Woodstock“ genannt) lief über 3 Tage. Mit am Start gewesen sind neben dem Godfather of Soul, James Brown und dem Godfather of Blues, B. B. King u.a. Bill Withers, The Spinners und Miriam Makeba und Afrisa.
Die Dokumentationen „Soul Power“ und „When We Were Kings“ sind beide absolut sehenswert. Bei „Soul Power“ von Jeffrey Levy-Hinte steht jedoch mehr die Musik im Vordergrund.
Foreman ging in der 8. Runde KO und Ali siegte. R.I.P. Muhammad Ali.
Soul Power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8QDuwaSMfA
Soul Power has been crafted from the extensive footage which remained after the making of When We Were Kings, which famously documented the epic title fight, but only briefly touched upon the Zaire „™74 music festival. This footage has remained vaulted for the past 35 years, unused, unseen, until now. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles (Gimme Shelter, Grey Gardens), Paul Goldsmith (Rust Never Sleeps), Kevin Keating (Harlan County USA), and Roderick Young (Wattstax), Soul Power finally provides today“™s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory, restored in HD and with incredible sound quality. An unbridled musical journey for the ages.
When We Were Kings
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo4kp3_leon-gast-1996-when-we-were-kings-partie-1_sport
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xo4l8l_leon-gast-1996-when-we-were-kings-partie-2_sport
It’s 1974, Muhammed Ali is 32 and thought by many to be past his prime. George Forman is ten years younger and the Heavyweight champion of the world. Promoter Don King wants to make a name for himself and offers both fighters five million dollars apiece to fight one another, and when they accept, King has only to come up with the money. He finds a backer in Mobutu Sese Suko, the dictator of Zaire and the „Rumble in the Jungle“ is set. A musical festival, featuring the America’s top black performers, like James Brown and B.B. King, is also planned.