Soul Power (2008)

In the heat of 1974, Kinshasa, Zaire becomes a pulsating epicenter of rhythm and fight, as music producers Hugh Masekela and Stewart Levine join forces with boxing promoter Don King. Their daring vision? To intertwine the thunderous echoes of a championship boxing match with the soul-stirring strums of a music festival, an event christened 'Zaire 74'. The anticipated 'Rumble in the Jungle' pitting the boxing titan Muhammad Ali against reigning champion George Foreman serves as the backdrop to this ambitious cultural spectacle. However, when the gladiatorial clash of gloves is threatened by Foreman's unforeseen training injury, the music festival's drumbeat must continue undeterred. Through the lens of this film, witness the relentless hustle of stage construction, the electrifying arrival of participating musicians, and the unexpected harmony born from a collision of risky business ventures, competing visions, and deeply personal understandings of spiritual devotion and black identity. Prepare to be drawn into the heart of Zaire as it pulsates to the rhythm of a musical extravaganza previously unseen on African soil. With James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, taking the lead, the stage ignites under the performances of a stellar lineup, including Miriam Makeba, Celia Cruz with the Fania All-Stars, B.B. King, Bill Withers, and the Spinners, among others. The 'Soul Power' of 1974 comes alive in this cinematic journey, capturing the raw spirit of resilience, unity, and the transformative power of music and sport. This is not just a film, it's an immersive time capsule, transporting viewers into a pivotal moment in cultural history.

Soul Power is a documentary movie featuring Bill Withers and directed by Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte.

Soul Power is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV and it's also available on fuboTV.

It is also possible to buy Soul Power on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Vudu and YouTube.