In 1974, the most celebrated Black American and African musicians in the world came together for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. This music festival became a reality when boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with "The Rumble in the Jungle," the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS.
Soul Power
Available on
Description
In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire. The dream-child of Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine, this music festival became a reality when they convinced boxing promoter Don King to combine the event with “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the epic fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, previously chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary WHEN WE WERE KINGS. SOUL POWER is a verité documentary about this legendary music festival (dubbed “Zaire ‘74”), and it depicts the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, among a host of others. At the peak of their talents and the height of their careers, these artists were inspired by this return to their African roots, as well as the enthusiasm of the Zairian audience, to give the performances of their lives. The concert has achieved mythological significance as the definitive Africa(n)-American musical event of the 20th Century. SOUL POWER is crafted from the extensive “outtakes” that remained after making WHEN WE WERE KINGS, which documented the epic title fight, but relegated the music festival to a small, supporting role. The “outtakes” have remained vaulted for the past 34 years, until now. The film was ultimately edited down from over 125 hours worth of footage. Lensed primarily by celebrated cinematographers Albert Maysles, Paul Goldsmith, Kevin Keating and Roderick Young, SOUL POWER finally provides today’s audience the opportunity to experience this historic musical event in all of its magnificent, filmed glory.
Cast and crew
-
Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte
Director -
Muhammad Ali
Self -
James Brown
Self -
Don King
Self -
Afrisa
Themselves - Performers -
Fania All-Stars
Themselves - Performers -
Buddy Allen
Self - Manager -
Ray Barretto
Self - Performer -
Big Black
Self - Performer -
Keith Bradshaw
Self - Investor Representative -
Kent Leon Brinkley
Self - Crusader -
Drew Bundini Brown
Self - Ali's Cameraman -
David Butts
Self - Dancer -
Larry Carlton
Self - Crusader -
Stokely Carmichael
Self - Black Nationalist -
Stix Cooper
Self - Crusader -
The Crusaders
Themselves - Performers -
Celia Cruz
Self -
Manu Dibango
Self -
Loko Massengo Djeskain
Self - Performer -
Henry Fambrough
Self - Spinner -
Wilton Felder
Self - Crusader -
Franco
Self - Performer -
Leon Gast
Self - Director -
Stewart Levine
Writer
Additional information
Directors
Jeffrey Kusama-HinteDirectors
Studio
Sony PicturesStudio
Subtitles
English (CC)Subtitles
Released year
2009Released year
Age rating
Duration
1 h 32 minDuration
Genres
DocumentaryGenres
Writers
Stewart LevineWriters
Size
5.5 GB (1080p HD)2.92 GB (720p HD)
1.95 GB (SD)
Size
2.92 GB (720p HD)
1.95 GB (SD)
Additional terms
Terms of transactionWindows | Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 or later |
---|---|
Xbox | Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X |
Mobile | Windows Phone 8, Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 or later |