12 Film Soundtracks Featuring Original Songs by African Artists

03.10.2025 Comment Views: 24

12 Movie Soundtracks Featuring Original Songs by African Artists

Artists from across Africa have lent their voices and compositions to a wide array of films — from superhero epics and action sports dramas to westerns and intimate, locally rooted stories. These collaborations have expanded the sonic palette of mainstream soundtracks while amplifying African perspectives on global stages.

Rather than cataloging licensed placements, this collection focuses on soundtracks that include original songs performed or recorded by African musicians specifically for motion pictures. Some projects bring together cross-continental ensembles curated by major stars, while others commission single contributions that became defining moments for both the artist and the film.

Below is a curated list of 12 notable soundtracks that feature original recordings by African artists, presented from newest to oldest.

F1 The Album (2025)

For the 2025 F1 The Album, several African artists recorded original tracks: Burna Boy delivered “Don’t Let Me Drown,” Mr Eazi contributed “Attention,” Darkoo offered “Give Me Love” and Obongjayar recorded “Gasoline.” Billboard highlighted both Burna Boy’s and Obongjayar’s songs among the soundtrack’s standout tracks.
Smurfs Movie Soundtrack — Music From & Inspired By (2025)

Tyla recorded the upbeat single “Everything Goes With Blue” for the 2025 Smurfs soundtrack. Ahead of her hosting appearance at the Kids’ Choice Awards that year, she described the experience as fun and said she was thrilled to participate in a family-friendly project tied to a beloved franchise.
The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2024)

Director Jeymes Samuel enlisted a mix of international and African talent for The Book of Clarence. The soundtrack features collaborations such as “Jeezu,” which brought together Adekunle Gold with Doja Cat and Kodak Black, and “Sacred Love,” a duet with Yemi Alade. Several artists celebrated the film’s inclusive musical vision on social media.
Bob Marley: One Love (Music Inspired by the Film) (2024)

The companion project to the Bob Marley biopic included reinterpretations by African artists: Bloody Civilian covered “Natural Mystic” and Wizkid recorded a version of “One Love.” The soundtrack went on to receive recognition at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including best reggae album honors.
Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture) (2023)

Metro Boomin’s 2023 soundtrack features collaborations with several African artists. Wizkid, Don Toliver, BEAM and Toian teamed up on “Link Up.” On the deluxe edition, Ayra Starr joined Becky G for “Take It to the Top” while Omah Lay appeared on “I Can’t Stop.”
Creed III: The Soundtrack (2023)

For Creed III, Sudanese American rapper Bas contributed to multiple tracks featuring African artists. He teamed with Ayra Starr on “Ogogoro” and paired with Ghanaian star Black Sherif and producer Kel-P on “Blood, Sweat and Tears.” The project was executive produced by J. Cole and Dreamville.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — Music From and Inspired By (2022)

The 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album included a wide representation of African musicians. Contributions range from DBN Gogo, Kamo Mphela and Young Stunna on collaborative tracks to Burna Boy’s “Alone,” Fireboy DML’s “Coming Back For You,” and Tems’ evocative cover of “No Woman, No Cry.” The soundtrack and its associated EPs also featured songs co-written by African artists and achieved strong chart placements on soundtrack and world music lists.
Coming 2 America (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)

The 2021 soundtrack for Coming 2 America included contributions from African artists: Tekno recorded a version of “Waka Waka,” while Burna Boy joined John Legend and Nile Rodgers on the reimagined title track, which samples the original 1988 theme co-written by Rodgers.
The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2021)

Jeymes Samuel’s western featured original songs by Fatoumata Diawara — who duetted with Ms. Lauryn Hill on “Black Woman” — and an operatic piece by South African soprano Pretty Yende titled “Three and Thirty Years.” Jay-Z served as an executive producer for the soundtrack.
The Lion King: The Gift (2019)

Beyoncé curated The Lion King: The Gift in 2019 as a companion album to the live-action film. The project spotlights a broad lineup of African talent: Pharrell Williams and Salatiel joined Beyoncé on “Water,” Blue Ivy and Wizkid featured on “Brown Skin Girl,” Shatta Wale appeared on “Already” with Major Lazer, and artists including Yemi Alade, Moonchild Sanelly and DJ Lag appear on “My Power.” The album topped several charts and received Grammy nominations, while the related visual project Black Is King also earned awards recognition.
Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack (2019)

Burna Boy contributed “My Money, My Baby” to the Queen & Slim soundtrack, a track that incorporates a sample from Fela Kuti’s 1972 song “Shakara,” bridging contemporary Afrobeats with seminal Afrobeat influences.
Black Panther: The Album (2018)

Kendrick Lamar curated the 2018 Black Panther album and included several African voices: South African artists such as Babes Wodumo and Yugen Blakrok appeared alongside other collaborators on tracks like “Redemption” and “Opps.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and earned multiple award nominations, underscoring the global impact of blending African sounds with contemporary hip-hop and R&B.