Andrew Garfield Used Afrobeat Music for Spider-Man Role
The actor utilized Fela Kuti's rhythmic music to influence his physical performance as Peter Parker.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Reggae
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Actor Andrew Garfield incorporated the revolutionary rhythms of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti to inform his portrayal of Peter Parker. He specifically used the music to shape his movements while wearing the Spider-Man suit.
Why it matters
Garfield sought to channel the power and revolutionary spirit of Fela Kuti, a central figure in Nigerian music, into his performance of the iconic hero.
Garfield reprised the role of Peter Parker across three films, beginning with the 2012 release of The Amazing Spider-Man. The subsequent film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, was released in 2014, followed by his appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The players
Andrew Garfield
He is a prominent Hollywood actor who played the role of Peter Parker in multiple Spider-Man films.
Fela Kuti
He was a Nigerian musician and activist who pioneered the Afrobeat genre of music.
The details
Garfield regularly creates specific playlists to help him prepare for his acting roles. For his work as Spider-Man, he adopted the rhythms of Kuti to bring a unique physical energy to the character on screen.
Timeline
Andrew Garfield starred in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was released in 2014.
Industry Dynamics
This integration of global musical influences into major franchise films highlights a shift toward more eclectic preparation methods in Hollywood. It reflects a growing trend where actors draw from diverse cultural sources to differentiate their portrayals of established intellectual property.
Fans interested in seeing the physical results of this preparation can revisit Garfield's performances in The Amazing Spider-Man series. The films are currently available across various streaming platforms and digital rental services.
The takeaway
Actors often use non-traditional artistic inspirations to build complex character physicality. Viewers can enhance their appreciation of a film by identifying how these unique background influences manifest in an actor's movement on screen.
Further reading
Discover more about the intersection of musical influences and performance in the Reggae section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pulse Nigeria.
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