Latest news with #CharlesKojoFosu
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Greatest in 100 years': Ghana mourns music legend Daddy Lumba
Ghanaians are mourning one of the country's best known singers, Charles Kojo Fosu, known as Daddy Lumba, who has died aged 60. A statement from the family of the legendary highlife artist said he died in hospital on Saturday after a short illness. Daddy Lumba, whose musical career spanned almost four decades, "was a cultural icon and his music touched countless lives", the statement said. Kofi Okyere-Darko, director of diaspora affairs at the office of the president, described Daddy Lumba as "the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years". Daddy Lumba inspired many young Ghanaian musicians to pursue highlife music - a genre synonymous with the country. He is credited with 33 albums and more than 200 songs over his long career, touching on themes such as love, forgiveness, beauty, money, death and other social themes. President John Mahama paid tribute to him on Sunday with a post on Facebook. "Lumba's unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives, carrying us through various phases of life," he wrote. "The beats to his memorable songs may have died down, but his enduring legacy will echo through the ages." Meanwhile former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said "his passing is indeed a huge blow not only to the music fraternity but the entire country". Fellow artists such as Sarkodie, Guru, Sista Afia, were among the first to send condolences to the bereaved family, eulogising the "incredible talent he shared with the world". Lumba last held a public concert to mark Valentine's Day on 15 February 2025 to celebrate love, sharing the stage with some of Ghana's brightest musicians, with many of the country's politicians and influential people in attendance. Earlier this month, he met President Mahama at an event organised for senior citizens at the seat of government as part of celebrations to mark the Republic Day holiday. He had been due to go on tour to the US and Canada later this year. His most celebrated albums include Sika Sem, Aben Wo Ha, Wo Ho Kyere, Awosoo, Give Peace A Chance and Ahenfue Kyinkye. His most recent song, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, was released in December 2022. Who was Daddy Lumba? Lumba, born on 29 September 1964 in the town of Nsuta in Ghana's Ashanti region, began his music journey in the early 1980s. He got his stage name Lumba when he composed the song Lumba Lumba, which he dedicated to the freedom fighters of South Africa, according to his official website. Daddy Lumba travelled to Germany and teamed up with fellow highlife musician Nana Acheampong and the duo became known as the Lumba Brothers. They released their first official album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom, in 1986 - the song of the same name captures the struggles of Ghanaian immigrants in Europe searching for a better life. After the pair fell out and split, Daddy Lumba launched a solo career and released his first album Obi Ate Meso Bio in 1990 and never looked back. His family has requested privacy "as they navigate this profound grief". Details of funeral arrangements will be made public in the coming days. More stories about Ghana from the BBC: Ghana bans foreigners from trading in its gold market to boost revenue 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack The Maths Queen with a quantum mission to mentor girls Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Daddy Lumba: Ghana's highlife legend dies age 60
Ghanaians are mourning one of the country's best known singers, Charles Kojo Fosu, known as Daddy Lumba, who has died aged 60.A statement from the family of the legendary highlife artist said he died in hospital on Saturday after a short Lumba, whose musical career spanned almost four decades, "was a cultural icon and his music touched countless lives", the statement Okyere-Darko, director of diaspora affairs at the office of the president, described Daddy Lumba as "the greatest from Ghana in the last 100 years". Daddy Lumba inspired many young Ghanaian musicians to pursue highlife music - a genre synonymous with the is credited with 33 albums and more than 200 songs over his long career, touching on themes such as love, forgiveness, beauty, money, death and other social John Mahama paid tribute to him on Sunday with a post on Facebook."Lumba's unmatched musical genius provided the soundtrack to our lives, carrying us through various phases of life," he wrote. "The beats to his memorable songs may have died down, but his enduring legacy will echo through the ages."Meanwhile former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said "his passing is indeed a huge blow not only to the music fraternity but the entire country".Fellow artists such as Sarkodie, Guru, Sista Afia, were among the first to send condolences to the bereaved family, eulogising the "incredible talent he shared with the world".Lumba last held a public concert to mark Valentine's Day on 15 February 2025 to celebrate love, sharing the stage with some of Ghana's brightest musicians, with many of the country's politicians and influential people in this month, he met President Mahama at an event organised for senior citizens at the seat of government as part of celebrations to mark the Republic Day had been due to go on tour to the US and Canada later this most celebrated albums include Sika Sem, Aben Wo Ha, Wo Ho Kyere, Awosoo, Give Peace A Chance and Ahenfue most recent song, Ofon Na Edi Asem Fo, was released in December 2022. Who was Daddy Lumba? Lumba, born on 29 September 1964 in the town of Nsuta in Ghana's Ashanti region, began his music journey in the early got his stage name Lumba when he composed the song Lumba Lumba, which he dedicated to the freedom fighters of South Africa, according to his official Lumba travelled to Germany and teamed up with fellow highlife musician Nana Acheampong and the duo became known as the Lumba released their first official album, Yee Ye Aka Akwantuom, in 1986 - the song of the same name captures the struggles of Ghanaian immigrants in Europe searching for a better the pair fell out and split, Daddy Lumba launched a solo career and released his first album Obi Ate Meso Bio in 1990 and never looked family has requested privacy "as they navigate this profound grief".Details of funeral arrangements will be made public in the coming days. More stories about Ghana from the BBC: Ghana bans foreigners from trading in its gold market to boost revenue'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me'Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crackThe Maths Queen with a quantum mission to mentor girls Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ghanaian legendary artiste Daddy Lumba don die
Legendary Ghanaian highlife artiste Charles Kojo Fosu wey dey popular as Daddy Lumba don die. E die at di age of 60. For inside one statement wey di lawyer for di family release, e say "Daddy Lumba die Saturday on 25 July 2025 afta short illness." "Daddy Lumba na more dan musician, e be cultural icon as im music bin touch countless lives," di statement wey lawyer Fati Ali Yallah don sign tok. Di family add say "im soulful voice provide soundtrack to our love stories and im poignant lyrics bin capture di poetry of our struggles, dreams and resilience." Tori bin comot on Saturday morning say di highlife legend don die bifor di family officially release di statement. Dem tok say "during dis time of ogbonge loss, we request privacy for di family and loved ones as dem try to accept dis profound grief." Details of di funeral arrangement go dey public for di coming days, di family add. Afta di tori of im death spread, im radio station for Accra (DL106.8 FM) begin pay tribute to di legend wit some of im songs for di air waves. Dem also write on top dia social media handle say "35+ years for di music industry wey still bin dey compete wit di gen Z's. Dat na Daddy Lumba and im legacy." Daddy Lumba na ogbonge artiste for di kontri and im music cut across generations. Daddy Lumba bin attend one recent event for Valentine on 15 February 2025 for di Accra international conference center. E perform many of im love songs togeda wit oda musicians. For most of im concerts, ogbonge politicians, former president John Kufour, and odas bin dey attend. Profile of Daddy Lumba: Pipo say e be di most influential Ghanaian artiste Di legendary artiste don get music career wey span ova 30 years. Pipo sabi am as "di most influential musician for di history of Ghana," according to tori on top im official website. Ogbonge musicians for Ghana today bin consider am as dia inspiration for di highlife music genre ; artiste like Ofori Amponsah, Kuami Eugene, Kidi, Oheneba Kissi and odas. Dem born Daddy Lumba 29 September 1964 for Nsuta for di Ashanti region. For di early 1980s wia im music career don begin when im form di Nkwanta Wesley singers band wey become popular for di region. According to gist on top im website, im get di name Lumba afta im compose one song wit di title 'lumba lumba' wey im dedicate am to di freedom fighters for South Africa at dat time. Na so di song don become popular wey im get di nickname 'Daddy Lumba'. E also form di 'Lumba brothers' band for im school those days, wey include im girlfriend. Daddy Lumba bin travel go Germany afta im studies, for there e meet anoda Ghanaian musician Nana Acheampong, and dem form anoda group 'Lumba brothers' band for dia. Di group release dia first album 'Yee ye aka akwantuom' for di year 1986. Di two don split and Lumba launch im solo career and release debut solo album "Obi ate meso buo" for 1990. Di legendary highlife artiste don release 33 albums for im career wit many popular songs. Some of im popular albums na "sika sem" "Aben wo ha" "Wo ho kyere" "Awosoo", " Give peace a chance" and "Ahenfue Kyinkye". Im latest project na "Ofon na edi asem fo" wey dem release for December 2022. Daddy Lumba apart from im own career don mentor and train odas like Felix Owusu, Afia Ampofowaa, Kwabena Sunmwa, Ofori Amponsah, Ateaa Tina and odas.
