Campbell explores the use of color by Nigerian painters Gani Odutokun, Obiora Udechukwu, Jimo Akolo, Joshua Akande, Kolade Oshinowo, Yusuf Grillo, and Uzo Egonu. All of these modern painters depart, some dramatically so, from the more pallid palette of colonial era painters. They employ color expressively, creating moods and intensities in their choice and interplay of color. For Akolo, color is the dominant element, overriding form and composition. With Grillo, color is much more subtle, even symbolic. Egonu uses color symbolically but in a different way; he restricts his color repertoire to red, black and white and the meanings that these can evoke.
