Ghana is in mourning following the death of one of its most celebrated music legends, Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, who passed away at age 60 after a brief illness. According to a statement from his family, the highlife icon died in hospital on Saturday. “He was a cultural beacon whose music shaped generations and touched countless lives,” the family said, requesting privacy during this difficult time.
Daddy Lumba, whose music career spanned nearly 40 years, released 33 albums and over 200 songs, exploring themes of love, heartbreak, wealth, spirituality, and societal issues. His unique blend of soulful melodies and storytelling earned him a place as one of Ghana’s greatest musicians. Born on 29 September 1964 in Nsuta, Ashanti Region, Lumba began his music journey in the early 1980s. He rose to fame after moving to Germany, where he teamed up with Nana Acheampong to form the Lumba Brothers. Their debut album Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom (1986) chronicled the struggles of Ghanaian immigrants in Europe.
He launched his solo career in 1990 with the hit album Obi Ate Meso Bio, kicking off a trailblazing run that produced classics like Sika Sem, Aben Wo Ha, Wo Ho Kyere, and Ahenfie Kyinkye. His last song, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, was released in December 2022. In February 2025, Lumba thrilled fans with a Valentine’s Day concert, his final public performance, sharing the stage with top Ghanaian artists in a sold-out show in Accra. Earlier this month, he also appeared at a senior citizens’ event hosted by President John Mahama as part of Republic Day celebrations.
Tributes have poured in from across the nation. President Mahama described Lumba as “a genius whose music was the soundtrack of our lives,” while former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia called his death “a national loss.” Kofi Okyere-Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, hailed him as “the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years.” Artists including Sarkodie, Sista Afia, M.anifest, and Guru also paid emotional tributes, celebrating his influence on Ghanaian music and culture. Lumba was scheduled to embark on a US and Canada tour later this year, which fans were eagerly anticipating.
