Andrew Garfield has revealed that Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti directly shaped his physical performance as Spider-Man, a connection he detailed in a roadside interview clip now circulating widely on social media. The clip, shared on Instagram by Trackstarpresents, shows Garfield explaining a creative habit he applies to every role: building a character-specific playlist.
“I create a playlist for every character I play, which is a lovely fun thing to do anyway,” Garfield said in the clip. He explained that after landing the role of Spider-Man, he began listening to Fela Kuti and found something in the music that resonated deeply with him.
The Rhythm and Justice-Seeking Influence of Fela Kuti
Garfield said the influence went beyond simple enjoyment of the music. “There was something about the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character. There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body, but also justice-seeking, because obviously he was a revolutionary figure,” he stated.
The actor connected Fela's revolutionary activism and sense of justice to his own approach to Peter Parker, noting that the musician's legacy as a political figure informed how he understood the superhero's moral drive.
Physicality in the Spider-Man Suit
Garfield elaborated that Fela's influence extended to the physicality of his performance inside the Spider-Man suit. “The way that I moved in that film in the suit has some inspiration from Fela and his music,” he said, adding that he was pursuing a specific instinct about the character's power. “I don't know what it is about this guy's power that I want to somehow reflect in this guy's power.”
Garfield played Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 2014, before returning to the role in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Fela Kuti's Enduring Legacy and Online Reaction
Fela Kuti, the Nigerian musician and pioneer of Afrobeat, remains one of the most influential figures in African music history. He is celebrated not only for his sound but also for his revolutionary politics and activism against military rule in Nigeria.
The clip has drawn significant attention online, largely because of the specificity and unexpected nature of the connection—a major Hollywood actor naming a Nigerian musical icon as a direct creative influence on one of the biggest franchise roles of his career. The revelation adds a new dimension to the cultural impact of Fela Kuti, whose music continues to inspire artists across the globe.
