Ghana Bids Farewell to Daddy Lumba: The Highlife Giant Whose Voice Defined a Nation

From Nsuta to national treasure, Charles Kojo Fosu’s legacy is more than music; it is the soul of a generation

Ghana has lost more than just a musician. It has lost a cultural compass. Charles Kojo Fosu, better known across Africa and the diaspora as Daddy Lumba, passed away on Saturday at age 60 after a short illness.

While his final curtain call came quietly in a hospital room, the nation’s reaction was anything but quiet. Fans flooded social media; radios replayed his greatest hits on loop; political leaders, celebrities, and everyday Ghanaians paused to remember the voice that soundtracked their lives.

‘The greatest in 100 years’

For many, Lumba was not just a singer. He was a storyteller, philosopher, and social commentator. His music, approximately 33 albums and over 200 songs, danced between joy and pain, love and heartbreak, youth and age. No wedding or taxi ride in Ghana felt complete without his smooth, poetic highlife melodies echoing from a speaker nearby.

Kofi Okyere-Darko, Ghana’s director of diaspora affairs, summed it up plainly: “He was the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years.”

Even President John Mahama offered an emotional tribute, calling Lumba’s music “the soundtrack to our lives.” He added, “The beats may have died down, but his legacy will echo through the ages.”

From Nsuta to stardom

Born in the Ashanti Region town of Nsuta on 29 September 1964, Lumba’s path to fame was as humble as it was remarkable. He gained his stage name after composing a track titled Lumba Lumba, a dedication to South African freedom fighters. That early song revealed his global awareness and his voice as a messenger.

In the 1980s, Lumba moved to Germany and teamed up with fellow highlife artist Nana Acheampong. Together, they became the Lumba Brothers. Their breakout 1986 album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom, spoke directly to the struggles of Ghanaians abroad searching for opportunity. It remains an anthem for diaspora resilience.

After the duo parted ways, Lumba launched a solo career that would shape modern highlife music. His first solo album, Obi Ate Meso Bio, was released in 1990, carving his name into the cultural memory of Ghana.

Love songs, legacy, and one last show

Lumba’s themes were timeless: love, money, regret, beauty, and betrayal. His classics, such as Aben Wo Ha, Sika Sem, and Give Peace A Chance, are still belted out across karaoke bars and family parties. Even his 2022 track, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, found success in the streaming era, proving his style never aged.

On 15 February 2025, he took the stage one last time for a Valentine’s Day concert. The night was packed with emotion, featuring Ghana’s top talent and an audience filled with influential figures. That performance now stands as an unofficial farewell, a final love letter to the fans.

Just weeks ago, he was seen shaking hands with President Mahama at a Republic Day event for senior citizens. Plans for a tour to the US and Canada later this year had been announced. Nobody knew that time was running out.

An entire country in mourning

The news of his passing has left a heavy silence in Ghana. Fellow musicians, including Sarkodie, M.anifest, Sista Afia, and Guru, have all taken to social media to honour him. “He shared incredible talent with the world,” said M.anifest. “We are better for it.”

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia called his death “a huge blow” to both the music industry and the nation as a whole.

The family has asked for privacy as they mourn; funeral details will be announced soon. It is already clear that no ceremony will ever fully capture the depth of what Lumba meant to Ghana.

Also read: Climbing Mountains After Loss: How the Mothers of Riky Rick and AKA Are Keeping Their Sons’ Spirits Alive

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Source: BBC

Featured Image: Modern Ghana