Nakeiltha Campbell aka Nikki is a multicultural percussionist, teaching artist, and producer whose work uplifts and empowers through the music and culture of the African Diaspora. Born in Colón, Panama and raised in Los Angeles, she carries her Afro-Caribbean Latinx lineage with pride, using drumming as a voice for healing, identity, and connection. Her name, Nakeiltha (na-kel-ta), created by her mother, means Hope and Love—two values woven into everything she does.

Introduced to the drum through Mandinka and Afro-Cuban traditions, Nakeiltha has cultivated a unique sound that honors her teachers while extending the legacy of women drummers. With over 15 years as a professional musician, she has shared her artistry in classrooms, federal prisons, women’s circles, and international stages. She has studied with masters including Mamady Keita, Kahlil Cummings, Aboubakar Kouyate, and Robertito Melendez, and has received honors such as the Alliance for California Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award and the Los Angeles Viva Panama Ambassador Award.

Her recording and performance credits span an extraordinary range—from Stevie Wonder, Lila Downs, Aloe Blacc, and Kendrick Lamar, to Sesame Street, the NAACP Image Awards, the Grammys, and festivals across the Americas, Europe and Africa. She has released original music, titled Afro Raíces, a fusion of Mandinka drumming and jazz, and Quiéreme – Love Me As I Am.

In 2015, she founded Puentes de Poder (Bridges of Power), a cultural exchange program that uses Afrocentric music and dance to promote unity and healing. Through this work, she has collaborated with organizations in Panama, Costa Rica, and Los Angeles to support communities in reclaiming heritage, celebrating diversity, and building bridges across generations and borders.

At her core, Nakeiltha believes drumming is more than rhythm—it is storytelling, resistance, and a pathway to belonging. She continues to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to find empowerment and healing through the drum.