Hollywood actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music and revolutionary spirit of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti influenced his portrayal of Spider-Man.
Garfield, who played Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man films, made the revelation in an interview clip that has been circulating on social media.
The actor explained that he creates a playlist for every character he plays and began listening to Fela Kuti after landing the role of Spider-Man.
According to Garfield, something about Fela's sound and rhythm became useful in developing the superhero's physicality.
He said the music helped him connect with the character's body and influenced the way he moved while wearing the Spider-Man suit.
Garfield also mentioned Fela's activism informed his understanding of Spider-Man's pursuit of justice.
“There was something about the sound and the rhythm that was really useful to me for that character,” Garfield said, explaining that Fela's revolutionary identity also resonated with Spider-Man's justice-seeking nature.
The actor added that the influence extended directly to his physical performance, saying the way he moved in the suit had “some inspiration from Fela and his music.”
Garfield portrayed Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and its 2014 sequel, before reprising the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021.
His comments offer a fresh insight into how he approached the character. Rather than drawing inspiration only from traditional superhero movements, Garfield appears to have incorporated the rhythm and physical energy he associated with Fela's music into his performance.
Fela Kuti, who died in 1997, remains one of Africa's most influential musicians and is widely recognised as the pioneer of Afrobeat. Beyond music, he was known for his outspoken political activism and criticism of Nigeria's military governments.
Garfield's revelation has since attracted attention online, particularly among Nigerian fans, who have celebrated the unexpected connection between one of the country's most influential musicians and one of Hollywood's most recognisable superheroes.
The revelation also adds another layer to Garfield's interpretation of Spider-Man, a character he has previously described as a symbol of someone trying to do what is right and fight for people who cannot fight for themselves.
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