British actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music and revolutionary spirit of late Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti influenced his portrayal of Spider-Man.
Garfield, who played Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man films, said he began listening to Fela Kuti’s music after landing the role and found the musician’s sound and rhythm useful in developing the character.
The actor made the revelation during an interview on the Track Star show, where he discussed his approach to preparing for different acting roles.
Garfield explained that he creates a playlist for every character he portrays, using music to help him connect with the personality and physicality of the role.
“I started listening to Fela Kuti when I first got Spider-Man, and there was something about the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character,” he said.
According to Garfield, Fela’s influence went beyond simply listening to his music during preparation.
The actor said the Afrobeat pioneer’s rhythm helped him become more physically connected to Spider-Man, including the way he moved while wearing the superhero suit.
“There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body, but also justice-seeking, because obviously he was a revolutionary figure,” Garfield said.
He added that some of the movements he used while portraying Spider-Man were inspired by Fela’s music.
“And the way that I moved in that film, in the suit, has some inspiration from Fela and his music,” he revealed.
Garfield also said he was fascinated by the power he sensed in Fela and wanted to capture some of that energy in his portrayal of the superhero.
“I was like, I don’t know what it is about this guy’s power that I want to somehow reflect in this guy’s power,” he said.
Fela’s revolutionary spirit
Fela Kuti was not only celebrated for his music but was also known for his outspoken political activism and criticism of corruption, oppression and military rule in Nigeria.
His music combined Afrobeat’s distinctive rhythms with social and political commentary, making him an influential figure both in Nigeria and internationally.
Garfield’s comments suggest that it was this combination of rhythm, physical energy and a strong sense of justice that particularly appealed to him while developing his interpretation of Peter Parker.
The connection is striking because Spider-Man’s character is also built around responsibility, courage and using his abilities to protect others.
Garfield’s Spider-Man journey
Garfield first played Peter Parker in Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 and reprised the role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014.
Almost a decade later, he returned to the character in Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home alongside Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire.
His latest revelation offers fans a different perspective on his performance, showing that his interpretation of Spider-Man was influenced not only by traditional acting techniques but also by the music of one of Africa’s most influential musicians.
For Nigerian music lovers, Garfield’s disclosure is another reminder of the international reach of Fela Kuti’s music and legacy, decades after the Afrobeat pioneer died in 1997.
Fela’s sound continues to influence musicians, artists and creators around the world—and, as Garfield’s story reveals, even the movements of a Hollywood superhero.
