Hollywood actor Andrew Garfield has revealed that legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti played a major role in shaping his character interpretation while starring in The Amazing Spider-Man.

Speaking during an appearance on the Track Star series, Garfield explained that compiling music playlists is an essential part of his preparation for film roles.

When he landed the role of Peter Parker for The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012, Fela Kuti's discography became a core component of his creative process.

"I usually create a playlist for every character I play, which is a lovely, fun thing to do anyway. So 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," Garfield shared.

Garfield noted that Fela's music helped him connect with both the physical agility required for the superhero role and the character's underlying drive for justice.

"There was something about suddenly being in touch with the body, but also justice-seeking, because obviously he was a revolutionary figure. And the way that I moved in that film, in the suit, has some inspiration from Fela and his music. 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 explained.

The British-American actor portrayed Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sony Pictures' The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), later reprising his role alongside Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire in Marvel's Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021).

Fela Kuti, a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and political activist who created the Afrobeat genre, remains an influential global icon known for his rhythmic compositions and outspoken resistance against political corruption and social injustice.

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Andrew Garfield credits Fela Kuti’s music as an influence on his Spider-Man performance. 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/0hdhT66vuh

— T.U.E (@TheUpperEnt) September 29, 2026