Philip Gbeho

Philip Comi Gbeho was a Ghanaian composer, music teacher and conductor, best known for writing the music of Ghana's national anthem. He also led the push for an Arts Council and a National Theatre, and founded the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir.

Early life

He was born on 14 January 1904 in Vodza, a fishing village near Keta in the Volta Region. His father, Doe Gbeho, was a fisherman, and his mother, Ametowofa, née Gadzekpo, was a trader who led the women singers in the village drumming group. At Keta Roman Catholic Boys' School he learned the organ and became pupil organist.

Teacher and organist

In 1925 he entered the new Achimota Teacher Training College, where he also studied piano and violin. After qualifying in 1929 he taught at his old school in Keta, played the organ at St Michael's Catholic Cathedral, founded the St Cecilia's Choir and ran an informal music school preparing pupils for London examinations. In 1938 Achimota College hired him as assistant music master.

London

In 1949 a British Council scholarship took him to Trinity College of Music in London, and a government scholarship let him stay for a graduate degree. He lectured on Gold Coast music, led a popular dance troupe of West African students, broadcast regularly on the BBC's Calling West Africa, and earned a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music.

Arts Council and national anthem

Back at Achimota, he campaigned to bring indigenous music into schools. In 1954 he became chairman of the interim committee of the Arts Council of the Gold Coast, which organised regional festivals and the first National Festival of the Arts in Accra in March 1957, the week of independence. Around independence he won the open competition to compose the national anthem, whose music is still sung today as "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana". In 1963 he created the National Symphony Orchestra and Choir, and in 1965 the Arts Council awarded him its Grand Medal.

Death

He died on 24 September 1976.