Ambrose Adekoya Campbell, born Oladipupo Adekoya Campbell on 19 August 1919 in Lagos, Nigeria, was a guitarist, singer, percussionist, and bandleader whose musical career had a lasting impact on the early presence of West African popular music in post‑war Britain, he formed the West African Rhythm Brothers in London in the 1940s where they became one of the first regularly performing groups of African musicians in the United Kingdom, his work helped introduce West African palm‑wine and highlife‑influenced sound to British audiences during a period of significant social change.
EXPLORE NOW: Biographies & Cultural Icons of Nigeria
Early Life and Musical Roots
Campbell was born into a Christian family in Lagos where his father served as a preacher, from an early age, he sang in the church choir, learning vocal harmony and performance in a structured setting, this early musical exposure provided a foundation for his later work.
Lagos in the first half of the twentieth century was a cosmopolitan port city where different musical styles converged, one of these was palm‑wine music, a genre that combined acoustic guitar patterns with melodic lines influenced by local rhythms and the interaction of sailors, traders, and coastal communities, although Campbell’s later music reflected these influences, there are no authoritative sources that detail the extent of his family’s approval or disapproval of his musical interests.
Move to Britain During World War Two
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Campbell joined the crew of a merchant vessel operated by Elder Dempster, a shipping line that connected West Africa and Britain, during his service the ship he was aboard was attacked in the Atlantic by German forces, and thereafter he left the vessel in Liverpool, soon afterwards he relocated to London where he became part of a small West African community.
In London, Campbell began assembling fellow West Africans to play music, this informal group evolved into the ensemble known as the West African Rhythm Brothers, they performed in community gatherings and in public events as the war concluded.
Formation and Performances of the West African Rhythm Brothers
The first widely documented public appearance of Campbell and his musicians occurred during the Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations in May 1945, they performed in Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus as Londoners celebrated the end of the European war, accounts from this period describe a large crowd following the group as they played.
By 1946, the West African Rhythm Brothers had become a professional ensemble, they were employed to perform music in support of Les Ballets Nègres, Europe’s first Black dance company which toured the United Kingdom, blending their musical rhythms with theatrical performance.
In the early 1950s the group established a long‑running residency at the Abalabi Club in London’s Soho, an important venue for West African and Caribbean musicians, there they played a mixture of palm‑wine and highlife‑influenced music, and became known within both African and British jazz circles; musicians such as Ronnie Scott, Tubby Hayes and Phil Seamen were among those who appreciated their sound.
Throughout the 1950s the West African Rhythm Brothers recorded numerous 10‑inch singles for the Melodisc label, documenting a musical style that blended African and diasporic influences.
Musical Style and Cultural Context
Campbell’s ensemble played music rooted in West African palm‑wine and highlife traditions, but their sound in London was shaped by the multicultural environment of post‑war Britain, influences from Caribbean calypso, mento, and British jazz permeated their arrangements, creating a hybrid style that reflected the experiences of African and Caribbean immigrants adapting to life in the United Kingdom.
This fusion of styles placed Campbell and his band at the forefront of early Black British popular music, at a time when racial diversity in British cultural life was increasing but still uncommon in mainstream entertainment.
Later Career and Life Abroad
In 1968, Campbell recorded Highlife Today on the Columbia label, an album that showcased his musical evolution, this work remained part of his legacy as an artist committed to both African traditions and evolving global sounds.
In 1972, Campbell moved to the United States after being invited by producer Denny Cordell, he connected with American musician Leon Russell, joining his touring band as a percussionist, this collaboration brought Campbell into international music circuits, he toured widely with Russell and contributed to recordings such as the million‑selling One for the Road with Russell and Willie Nelson.
Campbell eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee where he continued musical work and family life, before returning to Britain in 2004, settling in Plymouth where he lived out his final years.
He died on 22 June 2006 at the age of 86 in Plymouth.
Legacy and Influence
Campbell’s contributions are recognised as significant in the early history of African music in Britain, he led one of the first persistent groups of African musicians performing publicly, and his recordings capture an important moment in the cross‑cultural development of twentieth‑century music, his work anticipated later global interest in African popular music forms, and his presence in London paved the way for subsequent generations of African and Caribbean artists.
The inclusion of his recordings in the London Is the Place for Me reissue series helped renew interest in his work and introduced his music to new audiences interested in historical world music and diaspora studies.
Ambrose Adekoya Campbell’s documented life illustrates the movement of West African music into global contexts during the mid‑twentieth century, from Lagos to London and beyond, his leadership of the West African Rhythm Brothers introduced West African‑inflected popular music into Britain’s post‑war cultural scene, and his long career spanning continents reveals the enduring power of African musical traditions in shaping global soundscapes.
READ MORE: Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Author’s Note
Ambrose Adekoya Campbell remains a pivotal figure in the early history of African music in Britain, his work with the West African Rhythm Brothers stands as a testament to the cross‑cultural exchanges that shaped global music long before the contemporary concept of world music was established, his legacy continues to inspire interest in African diasporic musical heritage.
Reference
The Guardian, Deep Roots (Nigel Williamson), profile and interview with Ambrose Campbell.
National Portrait Gallery, Ambrose Adekoya Campbell entry.
All About Jazz, London Is the Place For Me 3 review.
