Ghanaian Highlife Legend Daddy Lumba Passes Away at 60
Ghana Mourns the Loss of a Musical Icon
Ghana's beloved highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the age of 60 following a short illness. The family announced his death through an official statement signed by Fati Ali Yallah, Counsel for the Fosu Family.
"Daddy Lumba was more than a musician; he was a cultural icon whose music touched countless lives. His soulful voice provided the soundtrack to our love stories, and his poignant lyrics captured the poetry of our struggles, dreams, and resilience," the family statement read.
Who Was Daddy Lumba?
Born on September 29, 1964, Daddy Lumba was widely regarded as the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time. With a career spanning over three decades, he released more than 30 albums, many of which became instant classics and earned him a devoted following across generations.
His music career began in the 1980s when he co-founded the Lumba Brothers group with Nana Acheampong before launching a highly successful solo career. His breakthrough album, "Yɛɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu," released in 1989, marked the beginning of a new era in Ghanaian highlife music.
Daddy Lumba was known for timeless hits including "Aben Wo Ha," "Theresa," "Yentie Obiaa," "Playboy," "Sika Asem," and "Tokrom." He combined traditional highlife rhythms with contemporary sounds, cementing his place in the annals of African music.
Impact on Ghanaian Music and Afrobeats
Daddy Lumba's influence extended far beyond his own recordings. He introduced future love song master Ofori Amponsah through his blockbuster hit album "Woho Kyere" (1999), and altogether sprung the careers of 13 different Ghanaian musicians. His mentorship and collaborations helped shape the next generation of Ghanaian artists.
While primarily a highlife musician, Daddy Lumba's work significantly influenced the broader West African music scene that would later contribute to the global Afrobeats movement. His innovative approach to combining traditional Ghanaian sounds with contemporary production techniques created a template that many modern African artists continue to follow.
Throughout his career, he won numerous awards, including three Ghana Music Awards in 1999 for Best Album, Artist of the Year, and Most Popular Song of the Year. In 2018, he was acknowledged with an "Icon/Legend of Entertainment" award at the Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards.
Remarkably, in commemoration of the 2025 Commonwealth Day, King Charles III listed Daddy Lumba's "Mpempem Do Me" song as one of his favorite tunes, ranking 7th out of 17 songs on the King's "The King's Music Room" playlist on Apple Music.
The family has requested privacy during this time of grief and stated that details of funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days. As Ghana and the wider African music community mourn this tremendous loss, Daddy Lumba's legacy as a cultural icon and musical pioneer remains firmly established.
