A filmed account of the Zaire 74 soul music festival, originally intended to be in concert with the famous Rumble in the Jungle bout in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974.A filmed account of the Zaire 74 soul music festival, originally intended to be in concert with the famous Rumble in the Jungle bout in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974.A filmed account of the Zaire 74 soul music festival, originally intended to be in concert with the famous Rumble in the Jungle bout in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1974.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
Muhammad Ali
- Self
- (archive footage)
James Brown
- Self
- (archive footage)
Fania All-Stars
- Themselves - Performers
- (archive footage)
Ray Barretto
- Self - Performer
- (archive footage)
Drew Bundini Brown
- Self - Ali's Cameraman
- (archive footage)
Stokely Carmichael
- Self - Black Nationalist
- (archive footage)
The Crusaders
- Themselves - Performers
- (archive footage)
Celia Cruz
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis festival was originally intended to complement the famous George Foreman/Mohammad Ali championship boxing match aka "The Rumble in the Jungle." However, shortly before the match, Foreman was injured in training and the bout had to be delayed for him to recuperate. To both avoid further disappointing the locals and in recognition that the performers have outstanding commitments elsewhere after the festival, it was decided to have it proceed on schedule on its own.
- ConnectionsFeatured in When We Were Kings (1996)
- SoundtracksSoul Power
Written by James Brown
Performed by James Brown & the J.B.'s
Under license from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Crited Music, Inc. (BMI)
Featured review
Way too short concert footage
At the time of this writing, media is still mourning, marketing or doing into sordid details of the recently departed Michael Jackson. What most people know or should know is one of Jackson's most favorite performers was James Brown. Brown was clearly the headliner of this historic concert festival that took place in Zaire in 1974.
There were other performers that came over on the airplane to perform. Among them were the vocal group the Spinners, the instrumental group the Crusaders, B.B. King with his group and the Cuban Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. In fact, it's Cruz's group that's shown leading the impromptu jamming and singing though in fact, they're singing in Spanish.
We also get plenty of Don King, legal counsel Ian Strafford and Muhammed Ali. The fight is postponed due to a finger injury by George Foreman who's not shown at all. This film is best seen with WHEN WE WERE KINGS to provide better context. Ali's black pride and complaints about the white man are recorded but this doc should have been more about the music. But perhaps it's needed as Brown also makes his opinions known.
We get to see King going through his set list but only his hit "The Thrill is Gone" is showcased. Except for Brown, the rest of the performers also get just one song. There were a number of African performers but only Miriam Makeba out of them get one song.
Brown gets three songs and I thought the costume he was wearing a bit odd. He was into fusion jazz funk at this time which was not as commercial as his earlier hits. He also gets the last line to end the movie. "God d**n it, you are somebody" he says as he looks into the camera. Soul Brother Number One.
There were other performers that came over on the airplane to perform. Among them were the vocal group the Spinners, the instrumental group the Crusaders, B.B. King with his group and the Cuban Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. In fact, it's Cruz's group that's shown leading the impromptu jamming and singing though in fact, they're singing in Spanish.
We also get plenty of Don King, legal counsel Ian Strafford and Muhammed Ali. The fight is postponed due to a finger injury by George Foreman who's not shown at all. This film is best seen with WHEN WE WERE KINGS to provide better context. Ali's black pride and complaints about the white man are recorded but this doc should have been more about the music. But perhaps it's needed as Brown also makes his opinions known.
We get to see King going through his set list but only his hit "The Thrill is Gone" is showcased. Except for Brown, the rest of the performers also get just one song. There were a number of African performers but only Miriam Makeba out of them get one song.
Brown gets three songs and I thought the costume he was wearing a bit odd. He was into fusion jazz funk at this time which was not as commercial as his earlier hits. He also gets the last line to end the movie. "God d**n it, you are somebody" he says as he looks into the camera. Soul Brother Number One.
helpful•112
- jjcremin-1
- Jul 16, 2009
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $207,121
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $23,893
- Jul 12, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $254,582
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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