Daddy Lumba laid to rest - Ghana says goodbye

Yesterday, Ghana said goodbye to one of its biggest music legends. Thousands turned up at Heroes Park inside Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi for Daddy Lumba's final funeral rites. It was emotional, loud, and full of his songs blasting everywhere. The man himself might as well have been performing.

If you're in your 20s or 30s, you probably grew up with DL's tracks on repeat. "Theresa" for those slow jams at parties. "Aben Wo Ha" blasting from trotro speakers. "Yentie Obiaa" when you needed that motivation. His voice just hit different. He talked about love, hustle, forgiveness, all in that smooth highlife style. Charles Kwadwo Fosu passed on July 26 this year at 60 after a short illness, and yesterday felt like the whole country paused to honour him.

The buildup wasn't smooth though. Family drama had been all over the news for months. Disputes over who controls the funeral under Akan custom, money from donations, even court cases. The maternal side tried to stop it last minute with an injunction on December 12, but the Accra High Court lifted it when they couldn't pay the GH¢2 million deposit. So everything went ahead on the 13th.

From early morning, people were queuing to see him lying in state. Fans in black and red cloth, some rocking DL T-shirts and caps. Live bands played his classics, and the crowd couldn't help singing along. Some even danced a bit. Nana Acheampong showed up and did an emotional performance of their old Lumba Brothers hits. His widow Priscilla (Odo Broni) was there looking heartbroken, kids paid tributes, dignitaries came through. Despite the backstage tension, the day turned into a proper celebration of his life.

Lumba dropped over 30 albums, influenced everyone from Sark to the new gen, and kept highlife alive with that modern twist. He spent time in Germany too, but always stayed connected to home.

He's gone, but crank up "Mensuo" or "Poison" next time you're feeling something. His music isn't going anywhere. Rest easy, legend. What's your go-to DL track? 


Edited by Theophila Zag