Daddy Lumba Death: Legendary Ghanaian Highlife Icon Dies at 60 – Life, Career & Legacy

Chapter 1: His Passing

• Charles Kwadwo Fosu, best known as Daddy Lumba, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra, following a short and undisclosed illness 

• He was 60 years old, born on 29 September 1964 in Nsuta, Ashanti Region 

• In an official statement, the Fosu family, through their legal counsel Baba Jamal & Associates, declared him a cultural icon whose soulful voice and poignant lyrics captured the poetry of love, struggle, and resilience. They requested privacy during this period, with funeral arrangements to be disclosed later 

🎶 Chapter 2: A Legacy in Sound

Early Life & Musical Roots

• Born into a modest family—his father was a teacher who died when Lumba was young, and his mother, Ama Saah, passed in 2001. She later inspired many of his heartfelt songs 

• His musical journey began at Juaben Senior High School, where he led the choir in 1983–84 and later formed a group called Lumba Brothers with school friends and girlfriend Theresa Abebrese 

Rise to Prominence in Germany

• After school, with Theresa’s support financially, Lumba moved to Germany, where he met highlife musician Ernest Nana Acheampong. They reestablished Lumba Brothers, blending gospel and highlife influences to lay the foundation for his iconic career

• Their debut album, Yɛɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu, was released in 1989 with production help from his wife Akosua Serwaa and marked his breakthrough 

A Prolific Output

• Over a three‑decade career, Daddy Lumba released 33 to 34 studio albums. His catalogue includes hits like Aben Wo Ha, Theresa, Playboy, Sika Asem, Yentie Obiaa, Tokrom, Mpempem Do Me, among many others

• He maintained a remarkable consistency, releasing hit albums every year through the late 1990s into the early 2000s. In 1999, he won Artist of the Year, Best Album, and Most Popular Song at the Ghana Music Awards 

Signature Songs & Cultural Impact

• “Theresa” (1990) pays homage to his high school supporter and played a key role in his journey to Germany; it remains a highlife classic 

• “Aben Wo Ha” (1998) became both controversial and celebrated for its bold lyrics; it was banned from neither radio nor public life and went on to win Song of the Year at Ghana’s inaugural music awards in 2000 

• “Yentie Obiaa” (2014) resonated nationally as a bold anthem of self‑determination, popularized further when Ghana’s President and traditional leaders danced to it publicly 

• “Mpempem Do Me” (2008) captured themes of resilience amid criticism, famously featured on King Charles III’s Commonwealth Day playlist on Apple Music in March 2025

Mentorship & Collaborations

• Daddy Lumba introduced and launched the careers of artists like Ofori Amponsah via collaboration on the Woho Kyere album in 1999, which produced several chart‑toppers

• He collaborated with many top musicians including Nana Acheampong, Felix Owusu, Pat Thomas, Borax, Ofori Amponsah and others, contributing to highlife’s evolution

Entrepreneurial Ventures & Awards

• Daddy Lumba launched DLFM 106.9 MHz in Accra in 2022, broadcasting in Twi and reinforcing his influence beyond singing into media entrepreneurship 

• He received the Icon/Legend of Entertainment award at the EMY Africa Awards in August 2018, and secured multiple Ghana Music Awards across decades 

🌟 Chapter 3: Remembering the Legend

Daddy Lumba leaves behind:

• A rich musical legacy of love songs, dance anthems, and socio‑cultural commentary.

• A bridge between generations, revered by fans from his earliest gospel‑influenced recordings to contemporary highlife hits.

• A mentor to many in Ghana’s music scene, with enduring influence on rising talents.

• An entrepreneurial spirit, owning his own production studio and media outlet.

His passing on July 26, 2025 marks the end of an era. But his music, lyricism, and cultural contributions continue to echo across Ghana and the diaspora.