Soul Power

People flocked to Zaire in 1974 to witness the “Rumble in the Jungle”—as promoter Don King dubbed the epic heavyweight title fight be – tween George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. That was the main event. But there was a less-publicized undercard of musical heavyweights who performed before the bout. Soul Power, a documentary of unusual exuberance, is the chronicle of that concert. On the stellar three-day bill: James Brown, at the peak of his proto-funk powers; bluesman B. B. King; and African stars such as Miriam Makeba, adding zesty global perspective. Soul Power makes a fine companion piece to the Oscar-winning documentary about the his to ric fight, When We Were Kings.