The life of a Legend, Daddy Lumba (Charles Kwadwo Fosu), [1964-2025]

Charles Kwadwo 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

Early life

Charles Kwadwo Fosu was born on 29 September 1964 in Nsuta, Ashanti Region of Ghana^{[5]:?para. 1?} to Comfort Gyamfi (n.a.–2001) and Johnson Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Ama Saah. The second of three siblings, both of his parents were teachers. His father passed away early in his childhood.^[6]

Fosu began schooling in Nsuta, and attended Suame Methodist in Kumasi, graduating in 1979. He then attended Adu Gyamfi Senior High School in Jamasi, later transferring and completing his secondary education at Juaben Senior High School in 1984.

Musical Career

Fosu would start singing at the age of 16, when he led the Juaben Senior High School choir from 1983 to 1984.^[8] He had also formed his first band, “Lumba Brothers,” with his friends.^{[9]:?sec. 1?} During this time, he would compose the song “Lumba Lumba,” dedicated to the South African freedom fighters of the time. The song became super popular, earning him the nickname “Daddy Lumba,” which he would later go with as his stage name.^[10]

Once graduating from Juaben, he moved to Germany in 1983 with the help of his then girlfriend Theresa Abebrese, of who he met at high school.^{[9]:?sec. 2?} It was in Germany where he met Highlife musician Nana Acheampong. Nana was already in a duo beforehand, called “Talking Dreams.” They struck up a friendship^{[9]:?sec. 2?} and would go on to formed the duo the Lumba Brothers, introducing Lumba to the genre of Highlife, who was at the time very immersed in gospel.^[8] The duo would release their debut studio album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom in 1986, which was produced by Lumba’s wife at the time, Akosua Serwa.^{[5]:?para. 2?[11]} The album’s official commercial release was delayed to 1989 due to finance issues but would become an major success for the duo.^{[9]:?sec. 2?} Later in the year, the duo split up, but they would still performed together at live shows for almost ten years until Lumba relocated to another city.^[12][13][10]

After the Lumba brothers split, Daddy Lumba released his debut solo album, Obi Ate Meso Buo, which was met with critical acclaim and was highly popular within the Ghanaian music space.^[14]

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 Y??y? Aka Akwantuo Mu.

Daddy Lumba, in all, released 33 albums.^[15] The albums included critically acclaimed ones such as Aben W?ha, Awosu?, Obi Ate Me So Bu?, Sika As?m and Ebi Se ?y? Aduro.

He was at the time of his death gearing up for his 34th album, titled Nnipa Fon Na ?ka Ns?m Fon.^[16]

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.^[17]

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.^[18] He however denied bleaching his skin.^[19]

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.^[20][21]

On 23 December 2022, Daddy Lumba released his long-awaited single, “Ofon Na ?di As?m Fo“.^[22]

On 18 October 2023, he released a single titled “Nya Abotare Na Twen Awurade”.

Personal

Daddy Lumba was married twice. He shared four kids with his first wife Maame Akosua Serwaa and three kids with his second wife Maame Broni.

Illness and death

On the early morning of 26 July 2025, Lumba died at the age of 60 in The Bank Hospital, located in Cantonments, Accra after an undisclosed brief illness.^[25] Before his death, he had frequented hospital visits^[26] and was recently undergoing treatment at the hospital for several days prior.