Andrew Garfield Says Fela Kuti’s Music Shaped His Spider-Man Performance

British actor Andrew Garfield has disclosed that the music of Fela Kuti, the Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer, played a part in how he approached the role of Spider-Man. Discussing his method for getting ready for parts, Garfield said he builds a playlist for each character he performs and started listening to Fela Kuti once he was cast as Spider-Man. “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 music assisted him in tapping into the character’s physical nature and in exploring ideas of justice and rebellion linked to the Nigerian musician. He noted that the rhythm and movement in Fela’s work shaped how he moved when he wore the Spider-Man 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. The actor also said he was attracted to the strength and vitality of Fela’s music and hoped to bring some of that element into his performance as the superhero.