50 Years Later: the Rumble in the Jungle and Zaire 74

The intersection of music, politics, boxing, social justice, and Muhammad Ali's larger-than-life persona at the Rumble in the Jungle resonated internationally. Rather than being recognized as just a boxing match, this fight negotiated African decolonization movements with a broader world. The Zaire 74 music festival and the Rumble in the Jungle both envisioned a united people of African ancestry, largely influencing social, cultural, and political events in the world.

Even though Ali continued to grow in his opposition to colonialism and racial injustices internationally, his popularity and reputation also improved to the general American public post-fight. Instead of maintaining an image as a controversial Black Nationalist, the public began to embrace him as a national hero. By reclaiming the World Heavyweight Champion title for the second time, Ali revived his career as a boxing legend, truly proving to the world that he was "The Greatest." 

"This fight is for the freedom, justice, and equality for the black man in America, so that I may take my title and my fame and go out and uplift black people in the ghettos, black people that's catching hell, black people who entertainers won't speak for. All those entertainers coming here, don't none of them get on television and give up every quarter to say something that is against white people or our government. All those entertainers, not saying I'm getting onto them but I need to lead the way. Now God has made me bigger than all the entertainers in America, God has made me bigger than all the entertainers in the world. God has made me bigger than all athletes in the world, now it's time to whoop this man, get my title so I can use it to help uplift the black man in America."
- Muhammad Ali on the Rumble in the Jungle