By NTD.la staff @ntdla
(Editor's note: We're rediscovering and revisiting the great stories from our friends at NTD.la, who in 2015 published this wonderful article about what might have been the greatest boxing match in history:) Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman, Held in 1974 in the exotic location of Kinshasa, Zaire. This event, better known in the world of sports as TThe Rumble in the Jungle, The Rumble in the Jungle, It also featured a memorable music festival, worth remembering, with videos and photos from the occasion. In short, 47 years ago Africa shook the world with its punches and ferocious rhythm.
It was 1974 and Muhammad Ali was already an established figure in sports and a very important figure in the rising debate for the rights of African Americans in the United States. His provocative and flamboyant persona was a magnet for the cameras. Furthermore, his clash with Washington over his refusal to join the army during the Vietnam War made him a target of attention. They had made Ali a true hero of the anti-war political activists of that time. And what about George Foreman? The then-heavyweight champion of the world had just knocked out the unstoppable Joe Frazier. and he was shaping up to be a true killing machine in the ring. He came into that fight with an impressive record of 40 wins and only one loss. He was the favorite of the specialized press, who didn't hesitate for a second to create a real media circus around those two striking figures.
In 1974, in the heart of an African continent that was freeing itself from its chains, These two black men fighting concentrated the attention and expectation of a world that was beginning to develop a taste for watching gigantic events live on television. Good for Don King. Didn't you see that fight? It's amazing. You can watch it here:
Some back-and-forth and a bit of bad luck caused the boxing event to be delayed by a few weeks, and the 90,000 people who had bought tickets to see the musical show had to enjoy that wonderful experience separately. However, Zaire 74 is remembered as the biggest black music concert in history, And its organizers compare it to Woodstock, although they regret not having achieved as much publicity as that white-themed festival. It even reached Kinshasa. Fania, who were led by the voice of the Cuban woman Celia Cruz They put on an impressive show with the presence of Cheo Feliciano, Héctor Lavoe, Jorge Santana and that wonderful orchestra.
But Fania wasn't the only act to arrive. Check out these two gems that made Zaire 74 a true musical inferno.
If you're still hungry for more, there are two documentaries by León Gast that you can watch: When we were kings, which tells the story of that boxing match, and Soul Power that portrays those unforgettable shows.