New Series Takes Fresh Look At Two Events That Punctuated Turbulent Period In Africa.

A new podcast titled Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of ’74 will mark the 50th anniversary of two historic events that may not seem at first glance to be connected — the legendary heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire, Africa, and the historic Zaire ’74 music festival that featured performances by the likes of James Brown, B.B. King, the Spinners, Bill Withers, and Miriam Makeba.

The original narrative non-fiction podcast, from School of Humans and iHeartPodcasts, is hosted by investigative journalist Zaron Burnett. He will guide listeners through the monumental effort behind and lead-up to the highly politicized super fight and festival, which were scheduled to take place on the same weekend as part of Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko’s strategy to forge ties between Zaire and the U.S. An unexpected injury forced Foreman to postpone the fight by six weeks, however, leaving the festival to proceed as planned with Ali ultimately attending, viewing it as a celebration of Black empowerment in the newly liberated Zaire.

“This project is sprawling in the best way. These two events mark the ascendance of Black Excellence on the world stage — and the journey there is packed with nuance and catharsis,” said Julia Christgau, Director and Producer at School of Humans. “We are thrilled to have partnered with iHeartPodcasts and Zaron Burnett to shine a spotlight on these impactful moments 50 years later and offer a holistic telling of these significant histories.”

Throughout the 13-episode series, listeners will hear various personal accounts around the two events including stories about the song-filled flight carrying all the artists to Zaire; James Brown’s insistence on bringing all his gear on board despite safety risks; Ali’s inspiring discussions on freedom in the greenroom; and more. The podcast will feature interviews with Ali’s grandson, King’s daughter, and James Brown’s dancer and band leader.

“Partnering with visionary storytellers like Zaron Burnett and School of Humans embodies our commitment to sharing powerful narratives such as this one, at the intersection of sports, politics, and music,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “We’re honored to help bring this pivotal moment in history to life, reminding us of the stories and figures of resilience and influence who have helped shape our world.”

Rumble: Ali/Foreman and The Soul of ’74 debuts Wednesday ( Oct. 9). It will be available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Burnett is an investigative journalist and long-form features writer who covers crime, exposes scams, and interviews more than his fair share of criminals. He earlier created the podcasts Black Cowboys and Ridiculous Crime.

“I’m excited to be working again with iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans on this project, specifically because they’re both dedicated to telling stories that connect people, explore emotional landscapes, enlarge and inform our worldviews — stories that take hold of our hearts and ask us to consider, in this case, the best of humanity,” said Burnett. “It’s a rare privilege to work with these storytellers because they grant the freedom to find new and interesting ways to convey the significance of this monumental and historic event to listeners.”