Kinshasa was the center of the world on October 30, 1974. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman fought in the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo—then Zaire—for the world heavyweight title.
The first, at 32, sought to change his image after three years without a license for refusing to fight in Vietnam.
"They have never called me black shit," he defended with his sharp tongue.
His opponent, a young Foreman, heavyweight world champion at 25, had the local public against him thanks to a campaign organized by Ali with which he managed to send a political, racial and civil rights message that he elevated boxing beyond just a fight.
Kinshasa was also a huge party on those days to the rhythm of Zaire 74, a three-day festival with the best pop and soul stars:
James Brown, Celia Cruz, Bill Withers... It happened at the stadium on May 20, which became obsolete and was replaced years later by the great Estadio de los Mártires.
On Thursday, this venue once again had its moment of international glory.
The Ali fight, financed by the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko to clean up his image, brought together some 60,000 people in what would forever be called
the Rumble in the Jungle
[combat in the jungle].
The Pope knows the story.
On the plane to Kinshasa, he heard it from a journalist who gave him Norman Mailer's book that recalls that event (
El Combate
).
On Thursday morning, some 65,000 people, mostly young people, greeted the pontiff at Congo's largest multi-purpose sports center with a somewhat different but just as rousing chorus.
They had been waiting for him for hours.
They had prepared dances, music, food.
A party similar to the one the day before at the N'dolo airport, but with an average age of no more than 17 years and a speech designed for them.
“It is sad to see young people who spend hours in front of a phone.
After they stared at the screen for so long, you look at their faces and see that they don't smile, their eyes are tired and bored.
Life is not chosen by touching the screen with your finger ”, he proposed in what would be the greatest act of rebellion of a current young man.
Pope Francis waves from the popemobile during his arrival at the Kinshasa Martyrs Stadium, before starting the event that brought together young Congolese, this Thursday, February 2. ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)
Around 65,000 young people and catechists from the Democratic Republic of the Congo eagerly awaited the start of the event, presided over by Pope Francis, which was held this Thursday, February 2, at the Martyrs Stadium, in Kinsasa. Manuel Schwarz (DPA via Europe Press)
Around 65,000 young people and catechists celebrated the arrival of Pope Francis, who advanced with his popemobile through the Stadium of the Martyrs, before beginning the act that was held this Thursday, February 2, in Kinsasa.Gregorio Borgia (APN)
Attendees pray at the end of the event held with Pope Francis at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa, this Thursday. ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)
The Pope greets the dancers after arriving at the event, which was held this Thursday at the Martyrs Stadium in Kinsasa.Gregorio Borgia (APN)
Young people and catechists celebrate the arrival of the Pope at the Kinshasa Martyrs Stadium, where Pope Francis held an event this Thursday. CIRO FUSCO (EFE)
Pope Francis gestures during the ceremony held at the Kinshasa Martyrs Stadium, where he met with young people and catechists, this Thursday, February 2. ARSENE MPIANA (AFP)
Several young people during the ceremony held at the Martyrs Stadium, in Kinsasa, this Thursday.
The Pope, at one point during the event, asked the young people to shout out loud: "No to corruption", which triggered the choirs that acclaimed the pontiff, interrupting his speech on several occasions. Moses Sawasawa (AP)
The Pope during the event that took place in the Stadium of the Martyrs, in Kinshasa, and that has brought together some 65,000 young people and catechists.- (AFP)
Some traditional dancers perform in front of Pope Francis during the meeting with young people and catechists, held at the Kinshasa Martyrs Stadium, this Thursday, January 2.Simone Risoluti (Vatican Media via REUTERS)
Several young people during the meeting with the Pope, this Thursday, in the stadium of the Martyrs of Kinshasa, which turned into a real party.Gregorio Borgia (AP)
An assistant holds an umbrella as she leaves after the Pope's meeting, this Thursday, in Kinshasa. ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)
Attendees sit behind a banner reflecting images of Pope Francis, during his event this Thursday in Kinshasa. ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP)
A dancer performs in front of Pope Francis during the meeting with young people and catechists, held at the Kinshasa Martyrs Stadium, this Thursday, January 2. YARA NARDI (REUTERS)
The more than 65,000 young people and catechists have had to go through a security control before entering the Stadium of the Martyrs, where an event with the Pope has been held, this Thursday in Kinsasa. Jerome Delay (AP)
Around 65,000 young people and catechists from the Democratic Republic of the Congo eagerly awaited the start of the event, presided over by Pope Francis, which was held this Thursday, February 2, at the Martyrs Stadium, in Kinsasa. YARA NARDI (REUTERS )
The Pope's message, in a country where Catholicism is growing and the validity of his speech has not withered, was received with devotion.
"Santo subito!"
Some banners read asking for his canonization while he was alive.
In this part of the world it is a true myth.
A boy of about six years was even dressed as a cardinal, wearing all the accessories and causing the fascination of the entire entourage of the Holy See (some with the same outfit as the boy).
“Don't get carried away like a dry log in a river of mud.
Feel outraged, without ever falling for the flattery of corruption, which is persuasive but poisoned.
No to corruption! ”, The pontiff shouted almost at the end of his speech, raising the stadium to its feet, which began to chant his name and jump madly.
Francisco tried to continue speaking, but the public, completely ecstatic by the moment of collective communion, would not let him and continued shouting in Lingala and against the country's president, Félix Antoine Tshisekedial, whom they blamed for their ills and reminded him that his mandate is about to finish: “
Kanyaka ezali kaka!
[Corruption continues]” and
“Biso ba jeunes, toza na nisala te
[We young people have no job]”.
In one of the stands was Jean Makaya, 33 years old.
He baseball cap, gold chain, wall clock on his wrist.
He was accompanying his son Erick, who was wearing a T-shirt with the Pope's photo and he did not stop singing.
His father — the boy's grandfather — witnessed the fight of the century, says Jean.
“He was always like a legend at home.
It was an incredible moment for the city.
But this is better, believe me.
Look at all these people how they are, ”he opines.
You would have to do a survey, of course.
But there are many differences between that October of 1974 and now.
Moment in which Ali knocked down Foreman during the fight in Zaire.AP
Ali had just converted to Islam at the time and the Pope preaches Catholicism.
In addition, the public shouted in ecstasy that
"Ali Bumayé"
(Ali, kill him), in the antipodes of the messages of peace.
But also, the boxers then ended up in Kinshasa due to a miscalculation.
Don King, then a young and inexperienced boxing promoter, promised each of them five million dollars for the fight.
The problem is that he later found no one in his right mind to pay for it.
The only offer, in fact, came from the heart of Africa and was put on the table by Mobutu, eager to whitewash his regime.
The Pope, and in that there are some similarities, knows that there are elections in the country within a year.
And that his visit will try to be profitable.
But that they take away what was danced today from those 80,000 people.
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