Daddy Lumba passes away at 60

Ghana has lost one of its most cherished musical icons. Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, has died.

He passed away in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.

Sources close to the family confirmed that the highlife maestro was admitted days earlier and died at dawn.

By midday, a large number of fans and sympathisers had gathered at his East Legon residence in Accra, stunned by the news of his passing.

In an official statement issued by the family through their legal representatives, Baba Jamal & Associates, they described Daddy Lumba as more than just a musician.

He was a cultural icon whose voice and lyrics left a deep imprint on Ghana’s soul, the statement said.

“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 statement read.

The family has requested privacy as they mourn their loss, adding that funeral details will be communicated in due course.

The announcement was signed by Fati Ali Yallah, Esq., counsel for the Fosu family.

Profile

Daddy Lumba (born 29 September 1964) was a Ghanaian singer-songwriter and musician, and has about 34 albums to his name. Born Charles Kwadwo Fosuh, he is widely regarded as the greatest Ghanaian musician of all time.

Daddy Lumba’s music career started at the age of 16. In JuabJuaben SHS, he formed the Lumba Brothers group with his friends Yaw and Kwabena and his girlfriend, Theresa Abebrese.

After school, with the help of Theresa, Daddy Lumba travelled to Germany to seek greener pastures.

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 has 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 to release 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, has released 33 albums. The albums include critically acclaimed ones such as Aben Wɔha, Awosuɔ, Obi Ate Me So Buɔ, Sika Asɛm and Ebi Se Ɛyɛ Aduro.

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.

His solo career has not been 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 is married with children.