It actually never crossed my mind that there’d be a genuine soundtrack for this. Alas, there is! And not only is there one, but the star of the movie, Jennifer Hudson, sings a new song on the soundtrack titled Bleed For Love, written by veteran, multiple award-winning songwriter, Diane Warren.

J-Hud performs the song with the Soweto Gospel Choir.

RCA Records announced today that it would release Winnie Mandela — Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, next week Tuesday, September 3, four days before the film, titled Winnie Mandela, opens in theaters on September 6.

One Village Entertainment and Image Entertainment (brands of Robert Johnson’s RLJ Entertainment) are behind the release, with TD Jakes (via his TDJ Enterprises) “presenting.” 

An adaptation of Anné Mariè du Preez Bezdrob’s biography Winnie Mandela: A Life, the film explores the personal and political life of the wife of renowned activist and revered former South African President, Nelson Mandela, telling the story of her struggle for the freedom during the Apartheid era.

Terrence Howard plays Nelson Mandela.

The film attracted controversy before a single frame was shot, primarily over the casting of Hudson, and the lack of communication with, and input from the real Winnie Mandela.

Jasmin interviewed director Darrell Roodt, last year for S&A, and you’re strongly encouraged to read that interview HERE. In it, he addresses a lot of the questions many of you have had about the project since we first alerted you to it, like his reasons for casting Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard, the audience backlash against his casting choices, especially by South Africans, the real Winnie Mandela’s objections to the project, what we can expect from the film, and more.

Again, read that interview HERE.

André Pieterse (Ironwood Films) and Michael Mosca (Equinoxe Films) are producers.

In a statement on the motion picture soundtrack album for the film, Hudson described her single, Bleed For Love, as one with an “incredible and meaningful message about the power of love and the extension of the human heart. Diane wrote a beautiful song and it was an honor to work with her and the rest of the team to create this powerful piece of music.“

The soundtrack also will feature tracks by St. Teresa’s Intermediate School Choir, Ben Amato, Ipeleng Moshe, Twalamato and the Manhattan Brothers.

Look for it next week.

Here’s a bootleg copy of Breed For Love (you’ll find a trailer for the film  under it):