Taking a step back to the past – the year is 1974. Some of my readers won’t be born for another 10 or 20 years. There is no internet. There is no such thing as cable television. There is no ESPN. And in this year the greatest athlete of the 20th Century is about to engage in a competition that the world will stop to watch. The “Rumble in the Jungle”
For those that are unfamiliar it was one of the biggest boxing events ever. Muhammad Ali was going to take back his World Heavyweight title from George Foreman (long before he ever thought of a quick way to grill burgers). The fight was to be held in Zaire. And it was to feature some of the best and most acclaimed African and African American entertainers of the time (and likely since).
Back in 1974 there were none of the instantaneous luxuries we have today. Which meant that an event like this was huge. Few if any events today can compare to the 3 days of entertainment that preceded a boxing match everyone wanted to see. In many ways it could compare to watching the World Cup finals.
The focus of this film is not the classic fight though. It is about the entertainers and the struggles entailed to get to the stage in Zaire. Then it details the performances of BB King, Bill Withers, Celia Cruz, Miriam Makemba, and James Brown.
Yes, it’s a documentary. From a perspective about the entertainers, and an event that shook the ground when it took place.
It’s short, and there are not a lot of scenes of the performances (due to cost constraints and the fact this happened 30 years ago). Still there is nothing like watching James Brown in his prime, or BB King, and all the others. Plus its interesting to see the bits of commentary of all these great African American entertainers about the world at that time. Though this is hardly a film that is only an African American film.
This is a worthwhile film for those documentary fans, as well as fans of music and history. This is a short trip to the past, and a joy. Check it out if you can.
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