Nnegest Likké, a filmmaker of Ethiopian, Nigerian and African American descent, said in a Premium Times interview earlier this year that “African Queen,” the heartwarming ballad by Nigerian hitmaker 2baba, “struck a universal chord with the world” 20 years ago — especially after Likké included it in her 2006 comedy Phat Girlz.
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Named the No. 1 song on Billboard‘s 50 best Afrobeats songs of all time list last month, “African Queen” is also one of the first Afrobeats songs to be incorporated in a Hollywood production, a phenomenon that has grown significantly over the last five years with the genre’s rising popularity across the globe. Now, Billboard is rounding up more Afropop music moments in TV and film: “African Queen” is not the only song from Billboard‘s best Afrobeats songs list that makes this one, as Wizkid and Tems‘ “Essence,” Skales’ “Shake Body” and Yemi Alade‘s “Johnny” have also been featured on the small and silver screens.
Outside of appearing during the third and final season of the Sex and the City spinoff series And Just Like That, “Essence” has also been featured on the CW sports drama series All American and the AppleTV+ sports comedy drama series Ted Lasso. Another Tems track, her 2020 For Broken Ears sleeper hit “Higher,” appeared on All American, while Ted Lasso spotlighted 1da Banton’s 2021 hit “No Wahala” and Tekno’s 2020 single “Enjoy” during its third and final season. And alté trailblazer Odunsi (The Engine) and Runtown’s “Star Signs” appeared in both Netflix’s British teen sex comedy drama series Sex Education and HBO’s sports comedy drama series Ballers.
Below, Billboard rounds up 15 moments where Afropop songs have soundtracked weddings, strip clubs and more on-screen moments, in order from newest to oldest. This list excludes songs that African artists intentionally recorded for TV show and movie soundtracks (although said list could be coming soon).
“Essence” by Wizkid feat. Tems in And Just Like That… (2025)
While Sarah Jessica Parker’s iconic protagonist Carrie Bradshaw attends a publishing soirée with her neighbor and fellow author Duncan Reeves — and Bradshaw meets Reeves’ editor and ex-wife Imogen — Wizkid and Tems’ smash “Essence” faintly plays in the background.
“London Town” by Mr. Eazi in Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024)
Dr. Ivo Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey, emerges from underneath the cobblestone streets of London as the Giggs-assisted “London Town” from Mr. Eazi‘s 2018 album Life is Eazi, Vol. 2 – Lagos to London plays.
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“Game Changer” by Flavour in Power Book II: Ghost (2024)
Flavour‘s 2023 African Royalty cut “Game Changer” plays right after the traditional “Igbo Kwenu” greeting during the wedding celebration of Cane Tejada and Noma Asaju, who is played by British Nigerian actress Caroline Chikezie.
“Heartbreaker” by Blaqbonez in All the Queen’s Men (2023)
Blaqbonez’s Sex Over Love cut “Heartbreaker,” featuring Nasty C, gets Marilyn “Madam” DeVille’s strip club Club Eden turnt up. “Tough month for my haters man,” he joked on X.
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“I’m a Mess” by Omah Lay in Everything Now (2023)
After Mia gets discharged from a months-long impatient treatment program for anorexia, Omah Lay‘s 2022 Boy Alone single “I’m a Mess” soundtracks part of her and her father’s car ride home.
“No Wahala” by 1da Banton in Ted Lasso (2023)
Following AFC Richmond’s victorious match against Brentford, marking the English football club’s sixth consecutive win, the players rejoice in the locker room. Afterwards, British Nigerian actor Toheeb Gbolabo O. Jimoh’s character Sam Obisanya tells them to continue the celebration at his Nigerian restaurant Ola’s, shortly before its official opening — and the invitation is soundtracked by 1da Banton’s “No Wahala.” “Essence” faintly plays later on while everyone’s still at the restaurant, further underscoring Obisanya’s strong ties to his Nigerian heritage.
“Higher” by Tems in All American (2023)
On-and-off lovers Spencer James and Olivia Baker perform a sultry dance routine to the tune of Tems’ “Higher” during Golden Angeles University’s BSU West African Students Association Fashion Show.
“Gbona” by Burna Boy in Top Boy (2022)
Burna Boy‘s 2019 African Giant cut “Gbona” plays while Jamie relishes in his newfound freedom from prison while sticking his hand out the car window and reunites with his fellow ZT (Zero Tolerance)/London Fields gang members. Netflix shared the scene on its Facebook account and cleverly captioned the clip “Top Burna Boy.”
“Shake Body” by Skales in Sex Education (2021)
“Shake Body” by Skales in Sex Education (2021)
Scottish Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa’s character Eric Effiong dancing in the mirror to Skales’ 2014 hit “Shake Body” while packing for his trip back home to Nigeria for a family wedding was one of season three’s prime scenes, and just one of many moments during episode six that spotlights music from the country. Odunsi (The Engine) and Runtown’s “Star Signs” and Wizkid’s “Joro” soundtrack Effiong and photographer Oba’s night out at a gay club, where they share a kiss in the middle of the dance floor.
Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and His Koola Lobitos’ “Oyejo” plays as Effiong spends quality family time at his grandmother’s home, while Tiwa Savage‘s “Koroba” plays when Effiong says goodbye to his grandmother and the end credits roll. Highlife musicians Prince Nico Mbarga and Idowu Odeyemi’s “Sweet Mother” and “Oni Suru,” respectively, and live instrumental versions of Burna Boy’s “Anybody” and Davido’s “Fall” are also featured in the episode.
“Assurance” by Davido in Coming 2 America (2021)
Davido performed his 2018 A Good Time single “Assurance” during the royal wedding celebration of the Prince of Zamunda Lavelle Junson-Joffer and Princess Mirembe. During an interview with Ionwannatalk Podcast, Davido revealed that he got paid $15,000 per day on set. “Assurance” was also included in the Amazon original motion picture soundtrack, as well as “Koroba” by Tiwa Savage, “Waka Waka” by Tekno and “These Streets” by South African house trio Mi Casa.
“Daddy Yo” by Wizkid in Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)
John Boyega’s character Jake Pentecost reflects on the Jaegers, giant humanoid mechas, defeating the Kaiju, villainous amphibious creatures, during the war a decade ago while Wizkid’s 2017 Sounds From The Other Side cut “Daddy Yo” soundtracks a boozy pool party. The British Nigerian actor, who stars in and co-produces the second installment of the Pacific Rim franchise, explained why he put the song in the film. “One of the most exciting things about producing Pacific Rim Uprising was the opportunity to influence the creative choices. So I put @wizkidayo song ‘Daddy yo’ in the movie. Jaegers need afrobeats too!” he wrote on Instagram, while sharing “a video of me listening to this very song. Cool, calm and collected…. I think.”
“Johnny” by Yemi Alade in Chewing Gum (2017)
After British Ghanian actress Michaela Coel’s hilarious character Tracey Gordon gets caught satisfying the Black girl fetish of her brief love interest Ash by his secret wife and kids, Yemi Alade’s 2014 smash “Johnny” — a song about her cheating ex-boyfriend — plays while Gordon is packing up her things.
“Skelewu” by Davido in Queen of Katwe (2016)
While British Nigerian actor David Oyelowo’s character Robert Katende introduces a couple of kids to the game of chess, Davido’s 2013 hit “Skelewu” plays during a flashback scene of a younger Katende beating a city boy in a match and winning tuition money as a result. “Never thought I’d hear ‘Skelewu’ in a Disney movie. Amazing. #QueenofKatwe @iamshizzi !! CRAZY SHIT!!! @Lupita_Nyongo God bless you!!” he wrote on X.
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“Rapid Fire” by Cruel Santino, Shane Eagle, Tomi Agape & Amaarae in Ballers (2015)
“Rapid Fire” by Cruel Santino, Shane Eagle, Tomi Agape and Amaarae faintly tees up Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson‘s character and Kansas City Chiefs owner Spencer Strasmore’s press conference, where he drops bombshell news about signing Patrick Mahomes “to the largest, fully guaranteed deal in NFL history.” And it’s just one instance during season five episode seven that gives African artists the mic. Teni‘s “Askayama” plays earlier on when former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Charles Greane’s wife Dr. Julie hangs up on him upon discovering he had two mild heart attacks, Odunsi (The Engine) and Runtown’s “Star Signs” plays when NFL player Ricky Jerret’s girlfriend Amber comes home and asks how his meeting with Hollywood executive Derek McLay was about becoming the next Michael Strahan, and Afrobeats superproducer Juls, Tiggs Da Author and Santino’s “Maaya” plays during Strasmore’s voiceover recap of the press conference and rolls into the end credits.
“African Queen” by 2baba in Phat Girlz (2006)
2baba’s 2004 hit “African Queen” plays while Mo’Nique’s character Jazmin Biltmore walks around Palm Springs with her love interest Dr. Tunde Jonathan and questions their connection, but he assures her with a long kiss in the middle of a busy sidewalk. And at the end of the movie, Biltmore flies to Nigeria to reunite with Dr. Jonathan and have their happily ever after, cuing the reprise of “African Queen” (which plays again during the end credits).
“I feel so blessed and honored to have played a role in introducing Afrobeats to international audiences through ‘African Queen,’” Likké said in her recent Premium Times interview. “‘African Queen’ is an iconic song because, as simple as it was, it struck a universal chord with the world. Everyone loved that song. There are a lot of hits in the Afrobeats genre, but will those songs stand the test of time and still be banging 20 years like ‘African Queen’ is?”
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