The music for one of the most anticipated African fantasy films in years is arriving almost two months before the movie itself.
Tems has been confirmed as executive music producer of the official soundtrack for ‘Children of Blood and Bone,’ and the album is set to land on November 20.
The lineup she has pulled together reads like a snapshot of where Nigerian pop sits right now. Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Fireboy DML, BNXN and Kold AF are all on board, according to the announcement shared on Instagram.
Tems sounds genuinely excited about the job. “I am so honoured to be part of ‘Children of Blood and Bone’. I have curated this lovely soundtrack. I really cannot wait for you to hear it,” she said.
She also dropped a hint about what fans can expect from her personally. “Get ready for some new songs from me as well as my very, very special friends,” she added.
This is not her first time near a major film score. Tems co-wrote Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up’ for ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.
Moving from songwriter on one track to steering an entire soundtrack is a clear step up in responsibility.
Her Grammy history gives her plenty of weight in the room too. She picked up a win for her part on Future’s ‘Wait for U’ and later took Best African Music Performance for ‘Love Me JeJe.’ Burna Boy, one of her headline guests, has his own Grammy for ‘Twice as Tall,’ so the soundtrack carries real awards pedigree.
The film side of the story matters just as much. Gina Prince-Bythewood is directing, and back in July she shared behind-the-scenes footage from the South African set on Instagram.
She framed the project around a bigger goal, saying she wanted the film to unite the diaspora.
That ambition fits the source material. The movie adapts Nigerian-American author Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling fantasy novel, set in the mythical Yorùbá-inspired kingdom of Orisha.
It follows Zelie, a young woman on a dangerous mission to restore magic that was stolen from her people.
Handing the soundtrack to a Nigerian artist with a mostly Nigerian guest list makes sense for a story rooted in Yorùbá culture.
Some fans will likely read it as the film choosing authenticity over a safer, more global pop roster, which has been a sore point with past Hollywood takes on African stories.
The cast is stacked as well. Thuso Mbedu leads, joined by Idris Elba, Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Damson Idris, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Regina King.
Paramount Pictures is behind the production, with the film scheduled for release in IMAX on January 15, 2027.
Until then, the November soundtrack will be the first real taste of how Orisha is supposed to sound, and Tems has yet to reveal which of those “very, very special friends” she is teaming up with on her own tracks.
