Ghanaians are grieving the death of one of the country’s most well-known musicians, Charles Kojo Fosu, also known as Daddy Lumba, at the age of 60. According to a family statement, the famed highlife performer died in the hospital on Saturday following a brief illness. According to the statement, Daddy Lumba “was a cultural icon and his music touched countless lives” throughout his nearly four-decade-long musical career. Daddy Lumba was characterised as “the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years” by Kofi Okyere-Darko, director of diaspora affairs at the president’s office. Daddy Lumba inspired many young Ghanaian musicians to explore highlife music, a genre that is linked with the country.
Over the course of his long career, he has released 33 albums and written over 200 songs about love, forgiveness, beauty, money, death, and other societal subjects. On Sunday, President John Mahama paid tribute to him via Facebook post. “Lumba’s unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives, carrying us through various phases of life,” his autobiography states. “The beats to his memorable songs may have died down, but his enduring legacy will echo through the ages.” Meanwhile, former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia stated that “his passing is indeed a huge blow not only to the music fraternity but to the entire country”.
Fellow artists Sarkodie, Kojo Antwi , king Promise, and Amakye Dede were among the first to express their condolences to the bereaved family, praising the “incredible talent he shared with the world”. Lumba last held a public Valentine’s Day performance on February 15, 2025, to honour love, sharing the stage with some of Ghana’s best singers and attended by many of the country’s dignitaries and significant figures. Earlier this month, he met President Mahama at an event for senior citizens held at the seat of government as part of the Republic Day celebrations. He had planned to travel the United States and Canada later this year.
His most celebrated albums include Sika Sem, Aben Wo Ha, Wo Ho Kyere, Awosoo, Give Peace A Chance and Ahenfue Kyinkye.
His most recent song, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, was released in December 2022.
Who was Daddy Lumba?
Lumba, born on September 29, 1964 in the village of Nsuta in Ghana’s Ashanti region, began his musical career in the early 1980s. According to his official website, he became known as Lumba after writing the song Lumba Lumba, which he dedicated to South African independence warriors. Daddy Lumba moved to Germany and linked up with fellow highlife performer Nana Acheampong, becoming the Lumba Brothers. They published their first official album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom, in 1986, and the song of the same name depicts the challenges of Ghanaian immigrants in Europe seeking a better life.
After the pair fell out and parted, Daddy Lumba embarked on a solo career, releasing his first album Obi Ate Meso Bio in 1990 and never looking back. His family has asked for privacy “as they navigate this profound grief”. Details about funeral arrangements will be made public in the coming days.
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