By Issah Olegor
The music industry and fans worldwide are preparing to converge in Accra on August 30, 2025, for the one-week observation of the late highlife legend, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.
The solemn gathering, to be held in the capital, was announced by the family through DL FM, the singer’s own radio station.
The memorial will be the first major public event following Daddy Lumba’s passing on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness. He was 60 years.
In the days following his passing, the Creative Arts Agency, working closely with the Fosu family, organised a nationwide candlelight vigil at the Independence Square on August 2, 2025.
The tribute drew thousands, with Ghanaians dressed in white and black gathering to sing his songs and share memories.
Simultaneous memorials were held in parts of Ghana and across the globe, including Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands—reflecting the cross-border reach of Daddy Lumba’s music.
Born in 1964, Daddy Lumba’s career spanned almost four decades, producing more than 33 albums and a long list of unforgettable hits, including Theresa, Aben Wo Ha, Ohia Asɛm, Playboy, Biribi Gyegye Wo, Seese Wo Se, Woho Kyere, and Awoso.
His unique ability to blend storytelling with infectious highlife rhythms earned him not only a loyal following but also numerous awards.
These included multiple Ghana Music Awards, the EMY Africa’s Legend of Entertainment Award in 2018, and, most recently, the Presidential Grand Medal in 2025 for his contribution to the arts.
The one-week observation is expected to bring together fans, industry leaders, and prominent figures from the music fraternity to celebrate his life, artistry, and enduring impact.
As per Akan tradition, the event will serve as both a period of reflection and a moment for the public to join the family in mourning while awaiting the final funeral rites.
According to the family, the main funeral will take place in Kumasi, the city of his upbringing and a significant backdrop to his musical journey.
The exact date for the burial will be announced in due course.
For now, all eyes turn to August 30, when the nation will pause to remember a man whose music became the soundtrack of countless Ghanaian lives.
