Musician Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly called Daddy Lumba, is dead.
Sources close to the family disclosed he had been admitted in the hospital for an undisclosed health condition but unfortunately passed away Saturday morning, July 26, 2025.
The family, through a legal representative, issued an official statement to confirm the death of Daddy Lumba.
"With profound sorrow and deep grief, the Fosu family announces the passing of Ghana's beloved musical icon, Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, who passed away earlier today, Saturday, July 26, 2025, after a short illness.”
"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.”
"During this time of immense loss, we respectfully request privacy for the family and loved ones as they navigate this profound grief. Details of funeral arrangements will be shared in the coming days," the statement signed by Fati Ali Yallah, Counsel for the Fosu Family from Baba Jamal & Associates, indicated.
Charles Kojo Fosu (29 September 1964 – 26 July 2025), known professionally as Daddy Lumba, was a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and musician who had about 34 albums to his name. He was widely regarded as the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time. [1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
His father, Owoahene Kwadwo Fosu, a teacher, died when Lumba was only a child. His mother, Comfort Gyamfi, popularly known as Ama Saah, was also a teacher. She died in 2001 in Kumasi. Her death was a devastating blow to Lumba as she was literally everything to him.[citation needed] Many of Daddy Lumba's songs, including "Anidasoɔ Wɔhɔ Ma Obiara", "Ohia Asɛm", "Ɛmmere Pa Bɛba", "Agya Bi Wua Agya Bi Tease", were dedicated to her.[5]
Career
Daddy Lumba's music career started at the age of 16. He was the leader of Juaben Senior High School choir from 1983 to 1984 academic year where Christabel was the music teacher and he completed in 1985. In Juaben SHS, Lumba formed the Lumba Brothers group with his friends Yaw and Kwabena and girlfriend, Theresa Abebrese.[citation needed]
After school, with the help of his girlfriend Theresa, Lumba travelled to Germany to seek greener pastures.[when?]
In Germany, he met Ernest Nana Acheampong. Nana had already formed a group called talking dreams with a white man. The only thing Lumba knew at the time was gospel music, and he credited Nana Acheampong with introducing him to highlife music.
They formed another group called Lumba Brothers, the same name as his first group when he was in Juaben SHS.
The pair planned releasing an album in 1986 but due to financial constraints, the album was released in 1989 with the help of Lumba's wife, Akosua Serwaa, who produced the album. The title of the album is Yɛɛyɛ Aka Akwantuo Mu.
Daddy Lumba, in all, released 33 albums.[5] The albums included critically acclaimed ones such as Aben Wɔha, Awosuɔ, Obi Ate Me So Buɔ, Sika Asɛm and Ebi Se Ɛyɛ Aduro.
He was at the time of his death gearing up for his 34th album, titled Nnipa Fon Na Ɛka Nsɛm Fon.[6]
He was consistent with the release of multiple-hit albums thereafter and established himself as one of Ghana's most popular singers of the Highlife genre.
He introduced a future love song master, Ofori Amponsah, through his blockbuster hit album Woho Kyere (1999). Daddy Lumba's pairing in 1999 with the rising star produced five hits and shot Ofori Amponsah into the limelight. All together he sprang the careers of 13 different Ghanaian musicians.[citation needed]
In 1999, he won three awards including Best Album, Artist of the Year and the Most popular Song of the Year at the Ghana Music Awards. Before the year 2002, Daddy Lumba came out every year with a hit album.[7]
His solo career was not devoid of controversy; one moment he would release a gospel album and the next he would shock people with his provocative lyrics and music videos. He also faced accusations of skin bleaching.[8] He however denied bleaching his skin.[9]
He owned his own studio where he did all his work and also owned machines for mastering, cassette duplication, loading, printing and shrink wrapping exclusively for his works. His music evolved over the years to reflect the changes in taste and demands for music; he was described as a contemporary highlife artist. Daddy Lumba won several Ghana Music Awards and other excellence awards and continued to appeal to the young and old.[citation needed]
Apart from Ofori Amponsah and Nana Acheampong, Daddy Lumba also collaborated with Felix Owusu, Pat Thomas, Ateaa Tina, Oheneba Kissi and Afua Ampofowaa.[10][11]
On 23 December 2022, Daddy Lumba released his long-awaited single, 'Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo'.[12]
On 18 October 2023, he released a single Nya Abotare Na Twen Awurade.
Radio station
In September 2022, Daddy Lumba opened DLFM (106.9 MHz), a radio station broadcasting in Twi in the Accra area.[13][14]
Personal life and death
Daddy Lumba was married with children.[citation needed] He died on 26 July 2025, at the age of 60 after a short illness.[15]
Selected discographyYereye Aka Akwantuo Mu (with Nana Acheampong) (1989)
Obi Ate Meso Bo (1990)
Sika Asem (1991)
Playboy (Daddy Lumba album) (1992)
Biribi gyegye wo (1992)
Vida with Felix Owusu (1993)
The Very Best Of Daddy Lumba Vol. 1 (1994)
Mesom Jesus (1995)
Sesee Wo Se (1995)
Hwan na Otene with Akua Serwaa Bonsu (1996)
Back for Good (1997)
Ebi se ɛyɛ aduro (1997)
Aben waha (1998)
Woho kyere with Ofori Amponsah (1999)
Mato Odo mu (2000)
Poison (2001)
Aseɛ ho (with Borax) (2002)
Mɛma afa wo tirim (2002)
Bubra (2003)
Pa Ntoma (with Borax) (2004)
Ahenfo Kyinye with Pat Thomas (2004)
Area Boy (2005)
Give peace a chance (2005)
Tokrom (2006)
Agenda (2007)
Sika (2008)
Aware Pa Ye Anibre (2009)
Kohye Po (2011)
Awoso (2014)
Ye Nea Woho Beto Wo (2014)
Hosanna with Great Ampong (2015)
Enko den (2016)
AwardsOn 18 August 2018, he was acknowledged with an "Icon/Legend of Entertainment" award at the Exclusive Men of the Year Africa Awards (EMY Award).[16]
2000 Ghana Music Awards – Artist of the Year, Best Album of the Year, Most Popular Song of the Year
2003 Ghana Music Awards – Contemporary Highlife Artist, Contemporary Highlife Song, Contemporary Highlife Album.
In commemoration of the 2025 commonwealth day, King Charles III listed Daddy Lumba's 'Mpempem Do Me’ song as one of his favorite tunes. The song ranked 7th out of 17 songs on the king Charles' "the kings music room" playlist on Apple Music.[17][18][19][20]
Source : Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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