Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of '74
Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of '74
Fall 2024 marks 50 years since both the legendary Rumble in the Jungle fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, and the Zaire’ 74 music festival, headlined by the likes of James Brown, BB King, Miriam Makeba and myriad other stars. Muhammad Ali’s life bobs and weaves through an era of revolutions and disruptive social change in both the US and Africa. In the lead up to this highly politic…Social links:
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01:39
THE LEGACY
What do our heroes leave behind? Nico Ali-Walsh shares memories of his grandfather, The People’s Champ. George Foreman transforms after The Rumble in the Jungle, realizing that Ali “beat the devil” out of him. Hugh Masekela is finally able to return home to South Africa and his son, Selema follows …
53:11Explicit
THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
The infamous fight. Play by play. It's a punishing display of brutality and endurance. The avatars of America’s Culture War stand tall and fierce in the African ring. Foreman is fearsome, throwing haymaker after haymaker. Ali is classically savvy, inventing a new technique on the spot: The Rope-a-D…
1:01:56Explicit
THE SOUL OF '74
The show must go on! The Zaire ‘74 Music Festival is underway. The sounds of the diaspora grace the stage, united by the drum. Bill Withers stuns listeners with his raw talent. BB King wails on his guitar in one of his all-time best performances. Celia Cruz croons to the crowd, who finds an unexpec…
57:25Explicit
A LIE IN A LEOPARD SKIN HAT
Stuck in Zaire, Ali stays busywinning The People to his side. Foreman remains sullen and sequestered. Don King keeps the hype going as the festival is ramping up, and all involved insist: The Rumble in the Jungle will happen. In the meantime, we recount the tragic history of Zaire's decolonization …
57:40Explicit
COMIN' HOME TO AFRICA ... If James Brown Don't Kill Us All!
The music festival promoters hustle hard to secure a plane to Zaire. Finally on board, all the artists are nearly killed by James Brown and his oversized ego. Despite the high drama, the flight is a magical experience for all aboard when the musicians turn the plane into an epic jam session. This s…
45:20Explicit
SILENCE vs. NOISE
Ali and Foreman continue to train for their upcoming title fight and the great writers of the day document the progress. Across the Atlantic, Don King and Hank Schwartz oversee the preparations for the title fight and sweetens the deal by announcing the music festival. On the plane to the mother l…
52:22Explicit
CASH IS KING AND KING IS CASH
Fight promoter Don King and his business partner Hank Schwartz join forces with African strong man, President Mobutu of Zaire to put on an epic boxing event. To up the star power of this international affair, Don King joins forces with Hugh Masekela and Stuart Levine to build the three-day music fe…
54:30Explicit
ENTER DON KING
Don King swans into the boxing world and manages to get both Ali and Foreman to trust him completely. By working their egos and their dreams of a huge payday –– Don King’s able to persuade the two heavyweights into setting a date for a new title fight. The twist? This title bout, Ali’s latest attem…
47:30Explicit
BLUES BEHIND BARS
In the wake of the Attica Prison Uprising, BB King performs for the prisoners at Sing Sing Prison in 1972. The Thanksgiving Day concert sparks a new conversation about prisoner rights. Documentarian Daivd Hoffman recalls his time behind the camera, watching BB King perform, and how he softened the …
47:55Explicit