In 1974, the most celebrated American R&B acts of the time came together with the most renowned musical groups in Southern Africa for a 12-hour, three-night long concert held in Kinshasa, Zaire.




 Watch: Soul Power

The pipe dream of musician Hugh Masekela and producer 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, entirely composed of footage shot in 1974 at the legendary music festival (dubbed "Zaire '74"). It shows the experiences and performances of such musical luminaries as James Brown, BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makeba, 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 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 Country 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.

MUSIC FEATURED

SOUL POWER
Written by James Brown & the J.B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music Inc.
On behalf of Crited Music, Inc. (BMI)

BAKOBOSANA
Written by Lita Bembo
Performed by Lita Bembo & Les Stukas
All rights reserved - Tous droits réservés

I'LL NEVER LET YOU BREAK MY HEART AGAIN
Written by Fred Wesley, Charles Bobbit, Reggie Bryan
Performed by "Sweet" Charles Sherrell and the J.B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
On behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)

ONE OF A KIND (LOVE AFFAIR)
Written by Joseph B. Jefferson
Performed by The Spinners
Under License from Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

SIMBA NKONI
Written by François “Franco” Luambo Makiadi
Performed by OK Jazz featuring Franco
All rights reserved - Tous droits réservés

HOPE SHE'LL BE HAPPIER
Written by Bill Withers
Performed by Bill Withers
Under license from Songes of Universal, Inc.
on behalf of Interior Music Corp. (BMI)

THE CLICK SONG
Written by The Manhattan Brothers
Performed by Miriam Makeba
Under License from Makeba Music Company

ON AND ON
Written by Curtis Mayfield
Performed by Sister Sledge
Under License from Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
on behalf of Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
and Todd Mayfield Publishing (BMI)

THRILL IS GONE
Written by Rick Davon Darnell and Roy Hawkins
Performed by B.B. King
Under License from Universal Music-Careers (BMI)

PUT IT WHERE YOU WANT IT
Written by Joe Sample
Performed by the Crusaders
Under license from Chrysalis Songs (BMI)

QUIMBARA
Written by Junior Cepeda
Performed by Celia Cruz and the Fania All Stars
Under License from Universal-Musica Unica Publishing
on behalf of Fania Music (BMI)

PONTE DURO
Written by Johnny Pacheco
Performed by the Fania All Stars
Under License from Universal-Musica Unica Publishing
on behalf of Fania Music (BMI)

BONJOUR L’AFRIQUE
Written by Big Black
Performed by Big Black
Published by Jokot

SELI-JA
Written by Tabu Ley Rochereau
Performed by Tabu Ley Rochereau & L'Afrisa International
Under License from EMI Blackwood Music, Inc.

PAYBACK
Written by James Brown, John H. Starks, and Fred Wesley
Performed by James Brown & the J. B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)

COLD SWEAT
Written by James Brown and Alfred James Ellis
Performed by James Brown & the J. B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)

I CAN'T STAND MYSELF (WHEN YOU TOUCH ME)
Written by James Brown
Performed by James Brown & the J. B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)

SAY IT LOUD (I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD)
Written by James Brown and Alfred James Ellis
Performed by James Brown & the J.B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)

SAME BEAT
Written by James Brown
Performed by Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s
Under License from Unichappell Music, Inc.
on behalf of Dynatone Publishing Co. (BMI)