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| Photo Credit — Andrew Garfield & Fela Kuti |
Andrew Garfield has revealed that the music and revolutionary spirit of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti influenced key aspects of his physical performance as Spider-Man. The comments come from a recent appearance on the music interview series Track Star (also referred to as Trackstar or Track Star Presents), where the actor discussed how he builds playlists for every character he plays.
Garfield, who portrayed Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2(2014) before returning to the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), explained that music is a regular part of his preparation process.
“I create a playlist for every character I play, which is a lovely fun thing to do anyway,” he said. When he first landed the Spider-Man role, he began listening to Fela Kuti. “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.”
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He went further, stating that the influence reached the physicality of the suit itself: “And the way that I moved in that film in the suit has some inspiration from Fela and his music.”
Garfield added that he was trying to capture a particular quality of power: “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.”
The song featured in the segment was Fela Kuti’s “Water No Get Enemy” (often titled “Water Get No Enemy”) from the 1975 album Expensive Shit.
Why the Connection Makes Sense
Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938–1997) pioneered Afrobeat, blending highlife, jazz, funk, and traditional Nigerian rhythms with sharp political commentary. He was an outspoken critic of military rule and corruption in Nigeria, and his music often carried themes of resistance, community, and social justice.
These elements align with core traits of Spider-Man: a character who gains extraordinary physical ability and chooses to use it for justice, frequently at personal cost.
Garfield has long spoken about the importance of physical preparation for the role. In earlier interviews around the original Amazing Spider-Man films, he described intensive training that included parkour, gymnastics, wire work, and long gym sessions.
Music helped him find the right emotional and physical tone for Peter Parker—an awkward, idealistic young man who becomes more connected to his body once he gains his powers.
The Track Star comments add a specific cultural layer that had not been widely discussed before. Linking a major Hollywood superhero performance to a foundational African musical and political figure is unusual and has drawn attention online, especially in conversations about cross-cultural creative influences.
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Context on the Interview and Reaction
The remarks come from the episode “Testing Andrew Garfield’s Music Knowledge,” in which the host plays tracks and the actor responds.
Clips from the appearance (shared on platforms including Instagram by accounts associated with Trackstar) began circulating more widely in late September 2026, prompting coverage across entertainment and Nigerian media outlets.
Garfield’s comments fit a broader pattern in his career of thoughtful, process-oriented discussion about roles. He has previously talked about music as a tool for character work and has expressed deep personal affection for Spider-Man, a figure he has said he loved since early childhood.
Fela Kuti’s legacy continues to grow internationally. His music has influenced generations of artists across genres, and his political stance remains a reference point in discussions of art and activism. Garfield’s acknowledgment places that influence in an unexpected mainstream Hollywood context.
Broader Notes on Music and Performance
Actors often use music to access physicality, rhythm, or emotional states. In this case, Garfield explicitly connected Fela’s sound and revolutionary identity to both the bodily awareness required for Spider-Man’s movement and the character’s justice-driven nature. The result, according to the actor, was visible in how he moved while wearing the suit.
This detail adds texture to understanding Garfield’s interpretation of the character—one that many viewers found more grounded and emotionally intense than some other screen versions.
Chioma Adeyemi is an entertainment and music writer at Naijapiz. She covers Entertainment, Music, Videos.
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